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T.  S.  D.'ii-IISON 


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"And  near  it  grew  a  tangled  wood." 


THE 

OLD  SCHOOLHOUSE 

AND  OTHER 

Poems   and  Conceits  in  Verse 


T.  S:  DENISON 
n 

AUTHOR  OF  AN   IRON    CROWN,  THE    MAN    BEHIND,   MY 
INVISIBLE    PARTNER,   AND   THIRTY-SIX   PLAYS. 


ILLUSTRATED 


The  hasty  and  the  Janfy  vieet  at  the  ferry. 


UNIVERSTT 

OF 

gAL 

CI 

T.   S.  DENISON,  PUBLISHER, 
163  RANDOLPH  STREET 


COPYRIGHT,    IQ02 
BY  T.    S.  DENISON 


TO  THE  PERSON  WHO  READS  A  PREFACE. 

Some  of  these  poems  have  appeared  in  various 
periodicals.  Most  of  them,,  however,  have  never 
seen  the  light  of  publicity.  They  are  part  of  the 
bric-a-brac  accumulated  in  my  intellectual  workshop 
during  twenty-five  years.  Not  knowing  what  else  to 
do  with  them,  I  cast  them  forth  on  the  sea  of  print 
as  a  mother  bird  casts  her  fledgelings  from  the  nest. 
Some  of  them,  like  "Hasten,  Love,  Hasten/'  are 
poetry;  others,  like  "The  Ibis,"  merely  rhymes.  If 
I  were  to  indulge  any  regret  concerning  their  pub- 
lication, it  would  be  that  not  more  of  them  are 
poetry.  But  verse  is  undoubtedly  the  best  if  not  the 
only  vehicle  for  the  expression  of  many  moods  and 
passing  fancies. 

T.  S.  DENISON. 

October,  1902. 


3 

109748 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


All  the  illustrations  are  by  Mr.  Morris  B.  Aleshire, 
except  El  Capitan  and  Wady  el  Kelt,  which  are  reproduc- 
tions of  photographs. 

"AND  NEAR  IT  GREW  A  TANGLED  WOOD."-  Frontispiece 
"THOUGH  MEN  MAY  FLOUT  THE  DREAMER'S  RHYME."  2O 
"THE  WHITENING  FODDER  IN  THE  SERRIED  SHOCKS."  24 
"THE  LIMPID  WATERS  GLEAM."  -  -  -  -  42 

"THE  WATER  BOY  BEARS  FROM  THE  SPRING  HIS  JUG."        $2 

"AND  THOU,  El  Capitan,  CLOUD-PIERCING  ROCK."  -  72 
"WHERE  PROPHETS  ONCE  HAD  CONVERSE  WITH 

GREAT  JAH."  82 

"AND  PEACE  THE  TOILER'S  WAY."      -       -       ?  IO2 


CONTENTS 

VARIOUS    POEMS.  PAGE 

The    Old   Schoolhouse 1 1 

Life 14 

Long  Ago  15 

The  Zodiacal  Light  16 

Inscription  in  a  Book  of  Verse. 17 

The  Thing  That  Will  Not  Be 18 

The  Poet  is  Born,  Not  Made 20 

An  Ideal  21 

Indian  Summer 24 

Inscribed  on  a  Flyleaf 25 

The  Leper 26 

An  Ode  of  Anacreon 28 

Learn  to  Labor  and  to  Wait 29 

The  Snow  Plant 31 

It  is  an  111  Thing  to  be  Dying 32 

The  'Op  Tree  at  Kew 33 

An  Admonition  34 

The  Bugaboo  Tree 35 

Presentiments 37 

The  Shouting  Dervish 40 

The  Whispering  Dervish • 41 

The  Birth  of  the  Rainbow 42 

To  a  Book  Just  Published 44 

The  "Hant"  45 

The  Traitor's  Guile 47 

The  Hermit  Crab 48 

The  Palace 49 

July 52 

The  Runaway  Slave 53 

7 


8  CONTENTS 

POEMS  OF   LOVE.        %  PAGE 

Oh  Hasten,  Love,  Hasten 59 

If  Love  Were  June 60 

I   Gave  You   a   Rose 62 

Love's   Inner  Light 63 

The  Evils  *  of  Love 64 

On  the  Greek  View  of  Love 65 

The  Mermaid's  Call 66 

POEMS  OF  TRAVEL. 

Crillon 71 

El  Capitan    72 

Glacier  Point  73 

Sunrise  at  Mirror  Lake 75 

The  Grand  Canon  of  the  Colorado 76 

The  Ibis   , 77 

To  the  Mummy  of  Rameses  II 78 

Jaffa   .    .. 80 

The    Mountains    of    Moab 82 

Gethsemane    84 

Beni  Hassan 85 

Sunset  In  the  African  Desert 88 

The  Isle  of  Pines 89 

POEMS  OF  WAR. 

Columbia  97 

The  March  of  the  Dead  Brigade 98 

The  Charge  of  Pickett's  Brigade 99 

Our  Unknown  Heroes  101 

The  Sleuthing  of  the   Tiger 103 

The  Hymn  of  the  Avenger 105 

The  Poet  and  the  Word 107 

The  Chant  of  the  Boer 108 

The  Boy  Prisoner no 

THE  TYRANT  IMMORTAL 115-128 


VARIOUS  POEMS 

"The  corn  passes  from  hand  to  hand, 
but  comes  at  last  to  the  mill."    .    '   . 


THE  OLD  SCHOOLHOUSE 

AND 

OTHER  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE 

The  schoolhouse  stood  on  Sandy  Hill, 
A  noisy,  old-time  knowledge  mill, 
Where  Yankee  masters  came  to  teach 
And  wield  the  thought-inciting  beech. 

And  near  it  grew  a  tangled  wood — 
"May  apples"  there  inviting  stood ; 
And  oft  we  were  too  late  for  class 
In  digging  'seng  or  sassafras. 

That  log  house  was  of  good  report, 

As  strong  as  blockhouse  or  a  fort ; 

Great  white-oak  logs,  well  chinked  with  clay, 

Combined  to  keep  the  wind  away. 


12  THE  OLD  SCHOOLHOUSE. 

Along  the  bench  the  master  comes, 
Pronouncing  words  and  "doing"  sums ; 
Behind  his  back  an  urchin  grins ; 
The  hot  stove  bakes  our  tender  shins. 

The  learning  there  was  like  the  place, 
Plain  rudiments  with  little  grace; 
And  of  those  scholars  few  there  be 
Who  ciphered  past  the  Rule  of  Three. 

'Twas  Readin',  'Ritin',  'Rithmetic; 
The  books  were  hard  and  heads  were  thick ; 
Our  thoughts  ran  more  on  "corner"  ball, 
Or  scratching  pictures  on  the  wall. 

The  schools  are  better  now,  they  say, 
With  drawing  cows  and  muddling  clay ; 
But  learning  sometimes  on  us  palls — 
We  chewed  our  books  for  paper  balls ; 

And  slyly  tossed  them  up  on  high, 
Upon  the  ceiling,  there  to  dry. 
But  well  we  learned  that  simple  rule : 
"The  rod  is  made  for  back  of  fool." 


AND  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.      13 

How  very  slaw  the  laggard  sun 
His  noontide  journey  seemed  to  run! 
We  longed  for  lunch  of  buttered  bread 
And  mellow  apples,  ripe  and  red. 

Too  short  that  noon,  we  rushed  to  ball ; 
Soon,  "Books !"  we  heard  the  master  call. 
A  figure  lank,  I  see  him  still 
A-standing  on  the  old  log  sill. 

At  lessons,  then,  with  buzz  and  hum, 
We  spell,  or  puzzle  o'er  a  sum. 
At  four,  with  shout  and  rout,  we  go, 
But  some  are  kept,  the  very  slow. 

And  then  our  girls !  would  I  could  tell 
The  charms  and  virtues  of  sweet  Nell, 
Or  limn  the  gentle  face  of  Ann, 
Or  write  the  hoyden  tricks  of  Fan. 

We  scarce  our  triumph  could  disguise 
When  we  found  favor  in  their  eyes, 
And  saw  them  home  from  spelling  school, 
Or  bore  them  lightly  o'er  a  pool. 

Sometimes  the  master  thought  it  well, 
To  let  them  work  their  siren  spell, 


14          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

And    when  some  booby  broke  a  rule, 
Set  him  among  them  in  the  school. 

The  pokeweed  rankles  round  that  door 
Where  trod  the  noisy  feet  of  yore; 
But  still  that  old,  neglected  spot 
The  boys  and  girls  have  ne'er  iorgot. 

And  where  are  they,  that  noisy  throng? 
Some  stood  for  right  and  some  went  wrong , 
Some  drew  the  sword,  some  held  the  plow, 
And  some  rest  in  the  churchyard  now. 


LIFE. 


From  the  Greek. 


For  him  who  doeth  all  his  duty  well, 
The  span  of  life  is  brief  in  goodly  work, 
Who  doeth  ill  hath  but  one  endless  night. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  15 


LONG  AGO. 


In   "Hours   of   Recreation,"    1880. 


The  pall  of  the  past  with  its  woes  and  joys 

Is  the  threadbare  mantle  of  Time, — 
Old  Time  who  silvers  the  locks  he  toys 
While  their  owners  once  more  are  girls  and  boys 

In  childhood's  beautiful  clime. 

Oh,  those  cherished  times  of  the  long  ago, 

They  are  far  and  still  farther  away ; 
And  manhood's  years  as  days  we  know, 
For  sorrows  will  come,  and  pleasures  will  go, 

Till  the  months  pass  by  as  a  day. 

Away — away,  till  ages  it  seems — 

In  the  long  ago  prone  idols  lie 
'Mid  stranded  wrecks  of  cherished  schemes, 
Once  big  with  hope  in  our  boyish  dreams — 

They  flourished,  but  only  to  die. 


16          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Happy  were  we,  though  our  fitful  moods 

Caused  a  mother's  tear  or  a  mother's  kiss, 
For  imagination's  wonderful  broods 
Peopled  a  realm  where  no  care  intrudes, 
A  realm  of  air-castles  and  bliss. 

We  are  wiser  now ;  we  were  happier  then, 

When  our  young  hearts  knew  not  a  sigh ; 
And  a  something  whispers  the  old  refrain, 
The  reason  of  all  our  happiness  then, 
We  knew  not  that  hopes  could  die. 


THE  ZODIACAL  LIGHT. 


Pale,  spectral  visitor  of  radiant  southern  skies, 

Thy  nightly  apparition  charms  my  wondering  eyes. 

A  mystery  thy  shadowy  aspect  ever  keeps, 

Hid  from  all  eyes  which  search  the  vast,  celestial 

deeps. 

The  Milky  Way  were  but  an  old  familiar  friend; 
But  thy  pale  mystic  shade  with  Heaven's  blue  doth 

blend. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  17 

Sweet  shadow,  tell  me,  art  thou  some  celestial  maid 
Of  bold  Arcturus  or  Aldebaran  afraid? 
Or  dost  thou  flee  thy  lover,  the  pursuing  sun, 
Too  coy  to  yield  thyself,  yet  willing  to  be  won? 


PRESENTATION  INSCRIPTION  IN  A  BOOK 
OF  VERSE. 


Dear  Clara,  gentle  cousin  mine, 
Pray  read  the  verses  in  this  book. 

The  poet's  fire  is  divine; 

It  lightens  many  a  darksome  nook. 

The  poet's  inspiration  deep 

May  lead  us  from  our  earthy  selves ; 
So  in  your  soul  fine  verses  keep, 

Instead  of  keeping  them  on  shelves. 

It  needs  a  sympathetic  heart 
To  vibrate  to  a  tender  verse; 

And,  if  you  feel  the  poet's  art, 
Your  praise  is  better  than  your  purse, 


i8  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  THING  THAT  WILL  NOT  BE. 


A  futile  race,  a  thin,  white  face, 

No  funeral  dirges  o'er  his  bier. 
One  line  his  work  will  briefly  trace — 

"A  great  ambition  ended  here." 
A  mother  stands  beside  the  gate; 

Hope  whispers :     "He  will  come  to  me, 
My  boy  who  went  with  heart  elate." 

She  hopes  the  thing  that  will  not  be. 

Each  hour  tells  of  sad  farewells, 

Since  time  and  hope  together  met, 
And  youth  will  go  where  fortune  dwells, 

As  others  went  whose  sun  has  set. 
The  home  ones  bear  a  voiceless  grief 

And  fear  the  thing  they  yearn  to  see. 
Ah,  me !  to  hold  against  belief 

The  hope  of  thing  that  will  not  be. 

The  hour  was  rife,  ambition's  strife 
Has  left  but  age  and  wasted  days ; 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  19 

We  spurned  the  joys  of  humble  life — 
Oh,  mad  ambition,  curse  thy  ways ! 

But  eagerly  they  seize  each  place, 
As  swiftly  as  the  winds  may  flee. 

With  hope  alight  in  every  face 

They  seek  the  thing — oh,  will  it  be? 

Ye  plant  in  vain  who  know  not  pain, 

And  better  field  than  yours  is  none; 
Though  far-off  lands  allure  with  gain, 

At  home  there's  duty  to  be  done. 
And  honor  is  the  choicest  fruit 

That  duty  plants  or  men  may  see, 
And  ever  shall  the  world  impute 

To  it  the  things  that  ought  to  be. 

Oh,  young  and  fair,  be  this  your  prayer, 

Though  ye  may  wander  or  abide ; 
"Be  honor  with  me  everywhere, 

With  ebbing  as  with  flooding  tide." 
Be  zealous  then,  thine  hour  is  brief, 

In  faith  someone  doth  pray  for  thee, 
And  someone  holds  thee  in  belief 

As  him  who  brings  what  ought  to  be. 


20          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  POET  IS  BORN,  NOT  MADE. 


"  Poeta  nascitur,  non  fit." 


Men  say  the  poet's  born,  not  made — 

Divine  his  birth,  sublime  his  trade, 

Who  seems  to  sing  with  easy  grace 

The  song  that  lights  a  toiler's  face. 

Though  men  may  flout  the  dreamer's  rhyme, 

The  poet's  word  endures  with  time. 

His  thoughts  are  tuned  to  aching  heart, 

And  spring  at  touch  of  sorrow's  dart. 

With  kindling  zeal  he  sings  his  song 

That  prostrate  souls  may  rise  up  strong. 

When  men  despair  he  flies  his  flag, 

And  bravely  sings  lest  others  lag. 

His  life  blood  ebbs,  his  hope  is  gone, 

Knight  of  the  right,  he  cheers  men  on, 

His  soul  aflame  with  noble  wrath. 

Sweet  flowers  deck  the  poet's  path, 

Who  sows  'mid  clods  of  human  greed, 

In  future  years  shall  spring  the  seed. 


"Though  men  may  flout  the   dreamer's   rhyme.' 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  21 

E'en  though  his  sorrows  end  in  night, 
Full  time  shall  trim  the  poet's  light, 
And  men  shall  know  the  poet's  trade. 
Poet,  of  pain  and  sorrow  made, 
Hold  fast  this  truth,  despite  men's  scorn, 
The  poet's  made  as  well  as  born. 


AN  IDEAL. 
An    Imitation. 


In    "Hours   of   Recreation,"    1880. 


If  I  had  wit  and  beauty 
Awhile  I'd  play  the  beau; 

I'd  pledge  a  solemn  duty 
To  let  my  humor  flow. 

I'd  keep  my  spirits  frisky 

And  charm  the  fair  with  chat, 

For  jesting  isn't  risky 

When  jokes  are  never  flat. 


22          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

The  lords  of  all  creation 
Most  envious  should  be, 

When  woman's  adoration 
The  fair  bestowed  on  me. 

If  I  had  untold  money, 
Then  servants  full  a  score, 

The  wise,  the  grave,  the  funny 
Should  serve  my  ample  store. 

I'd  give  the  choicest  dinners, 
My  viands  of  the  best, 

I'd  ask  both  saints  and  sinners ; 
They  munch  with  equal  zest. 

My  wife,  a  stately  beauty, 
Should  royally  preside; 

A  queen  of  love  and  duty 
Must  be  my  happy  bride. 

In  travel  there  is  solace ; 

I'd  sit  with  dukes  and  kings ; 
I'd  build  a  summer  palace 

At  Newport  or  the  "Springs." 

I'd  read  and  write  at  leisure, 
And  great  men  I  would  know, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  23 

Rare  books  I'd  make  a  treasure, 
I'd  talk  of  art,  so,  so. 

I  think  I  could  be  merry 

Ha !  ha !  quite  merry,  sure. 
In  charity  not  weary, 

I'd  give  to  all  the  poor. 

And  then  I'd  surely  covet 

A  modicum  of  fame ; 
If  one  can  get  above  it, 

A  lowly  station's  tame. 

At  last  upon  the  summit, 

I'd  look  serenely  down, 
And  measure  with  my  plummet 

The  lofty  heights  I'd  won. 

But  I  couldn't  smile  forever; 

Then  what  wisdom's  in  my  plan  ? 
Alas,  perhaps  there  never 

Lived  a  very  happy  man. 


24          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


INDIAN   SUMMER. 


The  aging  year  in  its  revolving  course 
Doth  seem  to  linger  fondly  in  the  haze 
Of  languorous  Indian  summer's  witching  spell. 
The  forests  glow  in  red  and  gold  and  brown, 
While  hill  and  valley  drape  themselves  in  blue. 
The  golden  paw-paw  hangs  a-ripening, 
And  in  the  grass  the  yellow  walnuts  gleam. 
Sweet  chestnuts  hide  beneath  the  russet  leaves, 
Where  busy  squirrels  gather  winter's  hoard. 
The  whitening  fodder  in  the  serried  shocks 
Of  corn  is  foil  to  gleaming  pumpkins'  gold ; 
And  gold  that  would  have  tempted  Argonauts, 
In  piled  profusion,  marks  the  husker's  course, 
As  shirt-sleeved  farmers  gather  in  the  corn. 
The  mellow  air  is  fraught  with  perfume  sweet 
Of  ripened  fruits,  of  apples  and  of  grapes, 
Waiting,  insistent,  for  the  gathering. 
In  straggling,  noisy  squadrons  fly  the  crows, 
All  marshaled  for  their  southern  pilgrimage, 


"The   whitening   fodder   in   the   serried    shocks/ 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  25 

And  blackbirds  swoop  along  the  wheatfield's  edge, 

In  noisy  consultation  and  farewell. 

At  early  morn  the  air  is  crisp  with  frost ; 

At  eve  the  sun  drops  through  the  veiling  haze, 

A  fiery  globe,  whose  martial  aspect  seems 

At  war  with  all  the  beauties  of  the  day. 

And  all  too  short,  this  season  of  delight, 

For  Indian  summer  heralds  winter's  snow. 


INSCRIBED  ON  A  FLY-LEAF. 


Helen,  precious  friend  of  mine, 
Read  this  book,  'tis  half  divine; 
May  you  feel  the  poet's  art; 
Keep  it  always  in  your  heart. 

Books  are  many,  poets  few ; 
Guard  with  care  the  good  and  true; 
Let  the  worldlings  hawk  and  trade, 
Treasure  thoughts  that  ne'er  shall  fade. 


26  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  LEPER. 


That  distant  time  is  'by  a  halo  lit, 

Those  happy  days  of  home  and  friends  and  fame, 
Until  that  came,  the  nameless  thing,  and  it 
I  took  me  unbeknown, 

To  slay  my  being  and  to  blast  my  name. 

Good-bye  to  wife  and  child ;  we  meet  no  more. 

Friends  shun  me,  horror  stamped  in  every  face. 
Cease   vain  lament,  forget  me,  I  implore; 
A  leper  is  unclean, 

And  unclean  things  the  memory  may  not  trace. 

All  doors  are  closed  to  these,  the  living  dead, 
Who  in  the  ashes  of  repentance  cry ; 

So  vile  their  place  that  even  beasts  had  fled, 

Discovering  its  bounds. 

And  seeing  them,  I  prayed  that  I  might  die. 

But  soon  my  eyes  were  blasted  by  the  sight 
Of  ebbing  life  thus  linked  to  festering  death, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  27 

Till  one,  most  dreadful,  filled  me  with  affright, 
A  limbless  lump  decayed, 

And  cursing  fate  I  fled  with  bated  breath. 

So,  speeding  on,  I  met  a  prince  of  state, 
Who  rode  in  pomp  with  trumpet's  martial  blare, 

While  throngs  acclaimed  him  greatest  of  the  great, 

And  runners  cleared  his  way. 

But  as  he  passed  I  saw  the  leper  there. 

Rebellious,  then  I  cried :     "Oh,  why  undone  am  I  ? 

For  he,  too,  has  the  poison's  fatal  sting/' 
They  mocked  me,  but  a  cynic  made  reply : 
"Go,  fool,  thou  art  discovered, 

And  purple  hides  the  errors  of  a  king." 

Enraged,  the  people  then  began  to  rave 

And  stoned  me  till  I  shrieked:    "Oh,  God  unjust, 

I  curse  thee."    And  escaping,  in  a  cave, 

Made  friends  of  reptiles.     Lost ! 

Forsworn  and  filled  with  all  a  devil's  lust. 

But  solitude  had  tamed  my  surging  heart, 
And,  reconciled,  I  sought  that  leper  band 

To  claim  the  crust  that  was  my  humble  part, 

As  men  fling  bones  to  dogs. 

And  there  an  angel  took  my  leprous  hand 


28          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

And  spake :    "Rage  not.    He  hath  attained  his  goal ; 

But  fallen  angels  wait  to  chant  his  dirge. 
Have  pity;  his  is  leprosy  of  soul, 
But  thine  is  of  the  flesh, 

Which  prayer  and  humility  may  purge. 

"The  prince  hath  sinned  against  the  Holy  Ghost, 
Insulting  Heaven's  grace.    Thy  sin  is  pride, 

And  lowliness  redeems  thy  virtue  lost. 

But  ever  pray  for  him, 

Lest  he  in  Hades  curse  the  day  he  died." 


AN  ODE  OF  ANACREON. 


The  black  earth  ever  drinketh, 

The  forest  drinks  from  her, 
The  deep  sea  drinks  the  zephyrs 

That  o'er  its  bosom  stir. 
The  sun-orb,  ocean  sated, 

From  thirsting  moon  doth  flee. 
So,  comrades,  why  oppose  it? 

Go,  leave  my  cup  to  me. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  29 


LEARN  TO  LABOR  AND  TO  WAIT. 


In  "Hours  of  Recreation,"  1881. 


There's  an  adage  trite  and  golden, 
"Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait," 

And  that  maxim  worn  and  olden 
Ever  points  to  wisdom's  state. 

Hear  the  words  of  truth,  nor  falter 
At  the  lessons  she  may  teach ; 

Neither  luck  nor  fate  can  alter 
Any  prize  within  your  reach. 

But  the  meaning  of  the  sages 
Oft  is  hid  from  careless  view, 

And  the  wisdom  of  the  ages 
Must  be  learned  by  each  anew. 

Learn  to  labor !    Sacred  duty 
Lies  enshrined  in  that  behest, 

And  our  toil  is  robed  in  beauty 
When  our  labor  earns  us  rest. 


30          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

But  the  waiting!  ah,  the  waiting! 

Naught  is  labor ;  doubt  is  pain ; 
Deepest  wisdom  lies  in  sating 

Present  wants  with  present  gain. 

Dream  not  of  the  golden  showers 
That  may  crown  your  efforts  brave ; 

You  may  rest  in  fortune's  bowers, 
Mayhap  in  a  pauper's  grave. 

Not  by  toiling,  not  by  waiting, 
Can  we  open  Eden's  gate ; 

Greedy  toil  has  no  abating, 
And  the  miser  learns  to  wait. 

Time  for  gaining,  time  for  giving, 
Journey  ever  very  near, 

And  the  life  that's  worth  the  living 
Toils,  enjoys,  and  scatters  cheer. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  31 


THE  SNOW  PLANT. 


Snow  plant  by  the  mountain  trail, 
Ruddy  flesh  of  warmest  glow, 

Curious  were  your  simple  tale, 
Told  of  life  beneath  the  snow. 

Crisp  and  leafless  little  plant, 
Grown  on  root  of  sugar  pine ; 

Nature's  freak  you  are,  I  grant, 
Glowing  red  as  sparkling  wine. 

And  your  flowers,  crimson,  too, 

Little  pendant  fairy  bells, 
Pure  as  snow  from  which  they  grew, 

Hidden  in  Sierra's  dells. 

Flesh  with  neither  seed  nor  root, 
Plant  that  loves  the  spotless  snow, 

Beautiful  your  fragile  shoot, 
Bursting  from  the  frost  below. 


32          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Most  carnations  love  the  light, 
You  prefer  the  mountain  shade. 

Warmth  and  color  love  should  plight — 
Snow  plant,  you  are  oddly  made. 


IT  IS  AN  ILL  THING  TO  BE  DYING. 


A  Sentiment  of  Sappho. 


An  evil  death  must  be, 
For  so  the  gods  decree ; 
I  fain  at  rest  would  lie 
Were  't  beautiful  to  die. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.          33 


THE  'OP  TREE  AT  KEW. 


It  befell  in  the  gardens  of  Kew 

Where  I  sought  for  an  old  English  yew, 

And  a  gardener  lame 

Volunteered  me  the  same, 
In  the  space  of  a  minute,  to  view. 

But  to  cruise  and  to  roll  alongside 
Such  a  stumpy  and  grumpy  old  guide 
Set  my  wits  all  askew 
In  the  curious  gardens  of  Kew, 
And  his  accents  my  tympanum  tried. 

For  his  words,  like  his  mariner's  walk, 
Seemed  to  pitch  and  to  roll  in  his  talk. 

"  'Ere's  a  fine  Hinglish  hew, 

There's  a  Hirish  hew,  too, 
Likewise  we've  a  howl  and  an   'awk." 


"34          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

And  I  tipped  him  some  big  British  pence. 

(In  their  size  there  is  not  any  sense). 
With  a  lurch  like  a  smack  in  a  squall 
He  bowed,  for  the  tip  was  too  small, 

And  he  said :    "As  I  'opes  no  hoffense." 

All  gardeners — and  guides — have  a  plan ; 
His  features  antique  I  did  scan ; 

Then  a  sixpence,  straightway, 

I  tossed  up  in  play, 
And  he  showed  me  an  'Op  tree,  that  man. 


AN    ADMONITION. 


Translated  from  the  German  of  Goethe. 


And  wilt  thou  always  falter, 
Since  good  is  ever  here? 

Wouldst  thou  thy  fortune  alter, 
Good  luck  is  ever  near. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  35 


THE  BUGABOO  TREE. 


Oh,  fearsome  and  weird  is  the  bugaboo  tree, 
For  round  it  are  dancing  the  dead; 

Its  quivering  boughs  little  children  may  see 
Through  the  blankets  that  cover  each  head. 

A  phantom  comes  whispering,  glib  in  its  glee, 
Of  goblins  and  ghosts  in  white : 

"A  bogie  man  lives  in  the  bugaboo  tree 
And  he'll  carry  you  off  to-night." 

And  frightened  we  covered  each  tousled  head, 
We  cuddled  down  closer  for  fear, 

And  shuddered,  bethinking  that  under  the  bed 
The  bogies  might  gibe  and  jeer. 

The  buga/boo  tree  groweth  far  and  wide, 

And  it  tosses  uncanny  limbs. 
And  very  brave  people  by  day  deride 

Who  suffer  at  night  its  whims. 


36          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

It  causes  full  many  a  spectral  dream — 
Black  cats,  they  are  very  bad  luck, 

But  swift,  muddy  water  will  make  you  scream 
And  run  in  your  dreams  amuck. 

And  ships,  too,  are  built  of  the  bugaboo  tree, 

On  Friday  they  never  set  sail ; 
'Tis  an  ominous  day,  as  the  sailors  agree, 

For  bogie  men  ride  in  the  gale. 

The  tables  have  turned  on  the  bogie,  poor  man, 

And  vainly  he  flees  to  his  tree. 
We've  laid  him,  the  humbug,  beneath  a  ban 

Of  plain,  common  sense,  as  you  see. 

But,  common  sense,  tell  me,  is  that  all  a  myth, 
Since  wiseacres  pooh  away  pain? 

Perfiaps  it  has  neither  a  root  nor  a  pith — 
Let  people  of  Science  explain. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  37 


PRESENTIMENTS. 
In  "Scrap-Book  Recitations,"  1880. 

The  following  poem  was  suggested  by  the  belief  that 
many  people  have  presentiments  of  coming  evil.  It  is  said 
that  President  Lincoln  had  such  presentiments  for  many 
years. 

There's  naught  but  ceaseless  moaning 
In  the  beat  of  the  restless  sea, 

And  only  pain 

In  that  refrain 
Foreboding  ill  to  me. 

The  gale  that  swept  the  ocean 
Inrushes  o'er  the  earth, 

It  stirs  the  lake, 

The  forests  quake, 
A  specter  rides  in  mirth. 


38          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

That  specter  haunts  me  ever 
In  many  a  specious  guise, 

He  comes  and  goes 

With  friends  and  foes 
And  mocks  with  fateful  eyes. 

Prophetic  whisperings  warn  me 
Of  death  in  manhood's  prime ; 

By  day  and  night 

That  phantom  sprite 
Waits  his  appointed  time. 

He  holds  the  darkened  corner, 
I  chat  by  the  fireside, 

I  laugh  in  glee, 

I  jest  so  free, 
The  phantom  laughs  aside. 

I  think  it  all  a  fancy 
And  busy  myself  with  men, 

With  many  cares, 

And  great  affairs, 
Awhile  I'm  free  again. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  39 

In  travel  and  scenes  of  pleasure 
Life  grows  each  day  more  sweet; 

With  sudden  glee 

I  shout  I'm  free ; 
Lo !  fate  is  at  my  feet ! 

There's  naught  but  ceaseless  moaning 
Where  beats  the  restless  sea, 

And  only  pain 

In  that  refrain 
Foreboding  ill  to  me. 

A  cloud  broods  o'er  the  ocean; 
It  sails  above  my  head ; 

That  fleecy  cloud 

Becomes  a  shroud 
To  cover  me  when  dead. 


40          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  SHOUTING  DERVISH. 


"Our  town  is  but  small;  we  all  know  one  another." 

— From  the  A  rabic. 

There's  a  dervish  in  the  East, 
Who  howls  just  like  a  beast, 

There's  a  quiet,  whirling  dervish  better  bred. 
We've  a  talking  dervish  man 
In  our  little  social  clan, 

Whose  shouting  must,  I  fear,  disturb  the  dead. 

Now  if  Allah  only  would — 
He's  the  source  of  every  good — 

If  his  mercy  might  relieve  us  of  the  din, 
Would  by  miracle  or  plan, 
He  could  change  our  shouting  man 

To  a  dervish  who  would  take  a  silent  spin. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  41 


THE  WHISPERING  DERVISH. 


To  accompany  "The  Shouting  Dervish." 


There  is  a  mysterious  dervish, 

Who  wears  a  secretive  air, 
And  drags  men  into  an  alcove 

To  whisper  to  them  there. 

Hotels  and  clubs  he  inhabits, 
And  for  his  victims — wo  worth! 

Oh,  would  that,  like  the  dodo, 
He'd  disappear  from  the  earth. 

He  comes  when  you  are  conversing 
And  spirits  your  friend  away 

Into  a  quiet  corner 

To  join  in  a  mystery  play. 

And  has  this  serious  dervish 

Any  desirable  schemes  ? 
Ah,  no!  his  story  is  simple — 

He  deals  in  the  wares  called  dreams. 


42          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  THE  RAINBOW. 


A  radiant  bouquet, 

A  careless  maid  one  day, 

Threw  in  a  sparkling  brook. 

The  fountain's  naiad  took 

The  pretty  little  gift, 

And  quickly  through  the  rift 

Of  silver  flashing  foam 

Bore  it  to  her  fairy  home. 

The  limpid  waters  gleam, 

The  sparkling  little  stream 

Is  blushing  through  and  through, 

Dyed  with  the  rose's  hue, 

As  morning's  growing  light 

Illumines  sable  night. 

Tis  summer 'hot  and  dry, 

Bold  Phoebus  rides  on  high; 

His  unrelenting  rays 

Have  stilled  the  warbled  lays 

Of  all  the  dainty  throats 

Whose  sweetly  trilling  notes 

Were  born  with  April  flowers, 

Silent  now  in  leafy  bowers. 


"The  limpid  waters  gleam." 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  43 

The  fields  are  burning  up ; 
And  Sol,  with  golden  cup, 
Dips  from  the  fountain's  store, 
Replenishing  once  more 
The  cloud's  fantastic  rim- 
Above  the  mountain  grim. 
With  joy-enkindled  eye 
The  plowman  saw  the  sky 
Pour  precious  waters  down 
On  farm  and  dusty  town; 
Then  Sol  began  to  blink 
From  out  an  opening  chink 
That  melted  fast  and  wide 
Through  the  dark  cloud's  side. 
And  loj  a  splendid  scene — 
The  gracious  naiad  queen 
Had  placed  the  beauty  glow 
Of  flowers  in  the  bow. 
The  careless  maiden  gazed 
Upon  the  rainbow  pleased, 
With  not  a  passing  thought 
Of  the  beauty  she  had  wrought. 
And  so  a  little  deed 
Of  love  in  time  of  need 
May  stir  some  doubting  heart 
To  play  a  hero's  part. 


44          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


TO  A  BOOK  JUST  PUBLISHED. 


When  critics  praise  or  sneer  by  turns, 
Who  may  discern  the  godlike  flame 

Of  genius  that  a  twelvemonth  burns? 
Impartial  Time  shall  write  his  name. 

Time  seals  it — history  or  song, 
Romances,  sermons,  epic  pages; 

A  myriad  acolytes  may  throng, 
And  one  is  chosen  for  the  ages. 

I  set  adrift  my  little  craft, 

Content  to  give  it  to  the  sea ; 
If  Fame  so  please,  then  let  her  waft 

My  venture  safely  back  to  me. 

And  if  in  scorn  Fame  pass  me  by, 

Why  should  I  fret  who  owe  her  naught  ? 

Ambition  wins,  but  wins  to  die, 
My  wage  is  peace  by  duty  bought. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  45 

THE  "HANT." 

There  be  a  few  things 

Too  deep  for  science, 

Or  any  appliance 
That  knowledge  brings 

To  mortals  here. 
Of  all  the  oddities  in  creation, 
With  weird  and  wizardly  reputation, 

A  walking  spook  I  think  most  queer. 

He  stalks  at  night, 

So  awfully  solemn, 

And  straight  as  a  column, 
To  give  you  a  fright 

By  the  light  of  the  moon. 
Across  your  way  by  indirection, 
He  seems  to  glide  without  reflection, 

And  makes  you  a  face  by  the  light 
o'  the  moon. 

Oh,  pity  his  lot ! 

To  all  intents 

He  circumvents 
One  gruesome  spot 

By  a  ruined  house. 


46          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

With  hair  on  end  like  a  piggie's  bristle, 
And  goose  flesh,  too,  you  couldn't  whistle, 
Or  raise  the  courage  to  beard  a  mouse. 

He  carries  his  head 

Under  his  arm 

To  keep  it  from  harm, 
Like  a  loaf  of  bread 

Or  coffee  bought  at  the  store. 
He  makes  you  a  face  like  a  son  of  perdition 
By  the  light  of  the  moon  and  superstition, 

And  you  wish  that  the  dead  would  walk  no  more. 

For  who  is  this  hant, 

That  comes  from  the  dead, 

And  carries  his  head, 
And  glides  with  a  slant, 

Like  a  wounded  crane? 
He  dealt  in  cattle,  ycleped  a  drover, 
And  bought  fat  steers  from  off  the  clover, 

But  slain  for  his  money  he  haunts.     Is  it  plain? 

Oh  spirit  so  sad, 

I  think  it  folly, 

So  melancholy, 
A  ghost  should  gad, 

By  the  light  of  the  moon. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  47 

And  though  you  look  a  sad-eyed  griever, 
Td  like  to  tell  you  I'm  not  a  believer 
In  folks  afraid  to  be  seen  at  noon. 


THE  TRAITOR'S  GUILE. 

There's  a  wound  that  stings, 
And  the  hand  that  flings 

The  shaft  is  the  hand  of  a  friend. 
For  the  traitor's  dart 
Sinks  to  the  heart, 

And  love  will  not  defend. 

There's  a  word  that  kills 
As  its  poison  spills 

From  lips  that  once  were  kind ; 
And  the  honied  smile, 
And  the  traitor's  wile, 

Breed  anguish  most  refined. 

There's  a  deed  that's  done 
By  a  trusted  one 

Who  was  our  heart's  delight ; 
And  our  love  lies  dead, 
'Neath  her  pall,  outspread, 

That  covers  treason's  blight. 


48          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  HERMIT  CRAB. 


So  you  are  Mister  Hermit  Crab, 
Who  bears  his  house  upon  his  back  ? 

You  little  tramp,  you're  quick  to  grab 
A  neater  thing  that's  in  your  track. 

The  human  tramp  o'er  dirt  will  gloat. 

You're  clean  and  saucy,  snug  and  trim, 
Although  you  want  your  neighbor's  coat — 

He's  wearing  it,  you  wait  for  him. 

Your  eye's  on  every  vacant  house, 
You  try  them  on  to  find  a  fit, 

And  tuck  in  snug  as  bug  or  mouse ; 
You're  tickled  when  you  make  a  hit. 

Some  people  covet,  and  they  spy 
The  house  of  friend  and  try  things  on. 

They  scarce  can  waif  to  see  him  die ; 
They  want  his  things  before  he's  gone. 

This  crab-ed  moral's  quickly  read, 
The  hermit  isn't  quite  a  goose; 

He  waits  till  t'other  chap  is  dead 
And  puts  his  things  to  better  use. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  49 

THE  PALACE. 


Suggested  by  the   fall   of  the   dome   of  the   courthouse 
at  Rockford,  111.,    1882. 

Stone  by  stone  the  marble  palace  reared  its  snowy 
front  on  high, 

Day  by  day  its  added  glories  towered  grander  to- 
ward the  sky. 

Scores  of  passers  gazed  with  wonder  on  the  city's 
fairest  pride, 

Praised  with  many  words  the  beauties  of  their  city's 
marble  bride. 

And  the  builder  in  whose  visions  sprang  to  life 
that  beauteous  dream 

Gladly  heard  the  people's  praises,  words  that  sweet 
as  honey  seem. 

Far  abroad  the  fame  was  wafted  of  that  wondrous 
justice  hall, 

And  the  artist  read  with  rapture  how  his  work  sur- 
passed them  all. 

Workmen  builded,  sculptors  chiseled,  swinging 
careless  in  midair ; 

Stately  columns!  graceful  sculpture!  strength  and 
beauty  everywhere ! 


50          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Joys  are  added  to  the  artist,  and  he  leads  a  fair 

young  bride 
To  the  stately  pile  to  glory  in  his  own,  his  city's 

pride. 
They  have  passed  within  the  portals,  busy  hammers 

cease  to  swing, 
Rousing  cheers  for  bride  and  bridegroom  through 

the  lofty  arches  ring. 
Hark !    Above  the  dying  echoes  rises  one  appalling 

cry 
From  the  workmen  on  the  tower,  swinging  yonder 

toward  the  sky; 
Shrill  and  awful  for  one  second  rings  that  dreadful 

warning  sound, 
Then  a  whirl  of  wreck  and  ruin,  down,  the  palace 

thunders  down. 
Mortar-bearer,  gifted  artist,  side  by  side  together 

bleed ; 
What  for  service,  what  for  genius,  now  shall  be  the 

fitting  meed? 

Fairer  than  the  broken  marble,  senseless  lies  the 
stricken  bride, 

Genius  dying  in  his  triumph,  crushed  and  bleeding 
at  her  side. 

Toil-worn  wives  and  aged  mothers,  voiceless,  tear- 
less, view  their  dead ; 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  51 

Lost  to  them  is  every  dear  thing,  life  and  hope  and 

daily  bread. 
Genius  reared  that  great  rotunda,  Genius  sought  to 

pierce  the  sky ; 
Now,  dare  Genius  tell  those  widows  that  in  vain 

brave  men  may  die? 

Sacrifice  is  offered  daily  somewhere  'neath  the  flee- 
ing sun, 
Or  for  truth  or  cruel  error  sacrifice  must  still  be 

done . 
Only  God's  divinest  wisdom  numbers  all  the  woes  of 

man, 
That  betide  when  rash  presumption  daring  builds 

with  faulty  plan. 

Now  the  artist's  dream  has  vanished,  and  instead 

a  shapeless  mass 
Cumbers   all   the   busy  plaza   where  the  countless 

thousands  pass. 
Short  his  fame,  but  long  the  sorrow,  nurtured  in  his 

cherished  scheme 
Shall,   enshrined   in   public   legend,    live    to    mark 

fame's  empty  dream. 
So  misguided  genius  ever  writes  his  name  upon  the 

sand ; 
And   but  truth   with   angel   presence   may    for   aye 

enduring  stand. 


52          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


JULY. 

\  ___________ 

Aglow,  in  lusty  ardor,  July  brings 

Her  deep  fruition  to  all  things  create. 

Life  leaping  with  new  force,  in  pregnant  light, 

With  emulation  triumphs  o'er  decay. 

The  golden  wheat,  the  swelling  fruits,  the  .leaves 

In  verdant  canopy,  all  speak  of  life. 

The  joyous  birds,  with  songful  pride,  regard 

Their  uncouth  fledgelings,  and  the  lowing  kine 

Make  loving  answer  to  their  sportive  young. 

Rejoicing  in  his  waving  wheat,  afield, 

The  farmer  reaps  the  increase  of  his  lands. 

By  turns  at  butter-making  and  preserves 

The  wife  anticipates  the  winter's  needs. 

With  fruits  the  children  make  an  all-day  feast. 

The  invalid  breathes  in  the  .healing  air, 

In  converse  with  the  birds  'beneath  a  tree. 

The  noisy  reaper  fells  the  fragrant  grain; 

The  water  boy  bears  from  the  spring  his  jug. 

A  silver  burnish  veils   ethereal  blue, 


"The  water  boy  bears  from  the  spring  his  jug." 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  53 

In  summer's  glorious  sky ;  the  fleecy  clouds, 
Like  mountains  lying  low  and  far  away, 
Fit  barriers  were  of  some  enchanted  land, 
Their  silver  edges  cut  like  cameos. 
The  breezes  ripple  through  the  leafy  boughs 
With  murmurs  softer  than  a  naiad's  sigh. 
The  idler  lies  upon  the  bending  grass 
Unconscious  of  the  busy  world  he  fled, 
And  all  his  being  thrills  with  July's  joy. 


THE  RUNAWAY  SLAVE. 


Translated     freely    from    the    Creole    French    dialect    of 
Louisiana. 


In  a  sweet  gum  tree  the  mocking-bird  sits. 
"Peelo,  peeloo,"  he  sings,  and  he  flits. 
"Ho  there,  nigger,  cutting  in  the  cane, 
Buckle  to  the  work  now,  might  and  main." 

Negro  picking  on  the  old  "banzoo" 
Stops  to  listen,  for  they  want  him,  too. 


54          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Down  in  the  swamp,  he  hears  the  refrain, 
Of  the  master's  call  to  the  slaves  in  the  cane. 

Down  in  the  swamp,  by  the  bayou's  side, 
"Ole  Massr  finds  me  he'll  tan  mah  hide." 
There  in  the  swamp,  'mid  the  cypress  knees, 
On  a  moss-grown  isle  is  a  bower  of  ease. 

Woodpecker  taps  in  a  pine  tree's  top, 
Negro  listens  for  the  chase  to  stop. 
Deep  in  the  woods  there  is  plenty  of  room, 
Where  the  rare  sweet  jasmin  spends  its  bloom. 

Woodpecker  taps  on  a  hollow  tree — 
"Bless  yo',  honey,  dah's  a  house  foh  me!" 
Rat-tat-ta  in  the  shimmering  noon, 
And  the  "banzoo"  strums  to  a  negro  tune. 


POEMS  OF  LOVE 


1 '  Si  Henri  quatre  me  donnait 

Sa  grande  ville  de  Paris, 
Je  prjfjrrais  ma  miet 

Je  Qrtfdrrais  ma  mie. " 

1 '  My  only  books 

Were  -woman's  looks, 

And  folly  's  all  they  taught  me: 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  $9 


OH   HASTEN,  LOVE,   HASTEN! 


Oh  hasten,  love,  hasten,  for  time  flieth  fast; 
Our  youth  is  for  love  and  old  age  for  the  past. 
So  come  to  my  arms,  love,  and  list  to  the  beat 
Of  -a  heart  that  will  throb  to  a  love  token  sweet. 
I've  built  thee  a  bower  'mid  roses  and  vines, 
Where  each  fragrant  hour  to  love  lore  inclines ; 
The  south  wind  is  blowing,  the  rose  is  aglow, 
Oh  hasten,  love,  hasten,  thy  coming  is  slow. 

And  if  thou  come  not  in  the  flush  of  the  spring, 
The  fruitage  of  summer  thy  favors  will  bring. 
My  star's  in  the  zenith,  so  come  in  thy  power, 
In  beauty  a  vision,  in  perfume  a  flower. 
The  tendrils  entwine  the  fair  bower  I  built, 
The  beaker  is  brimming,  oh,  come  ere  'tis  spilt. 
For  the  heyday  of  manhood  surpasses  in  love 
As  far  as  the  eagle's  flight  passes  the  dove. 

And  failing  the  summer,  then  autumn  shall  plight, 
For  the  charms  that  are  ripened  are  fair  to  the  sight. 
Thine  eye  is  a  star,  and  my  heart  is,  in  truth, 
More  steadfast  in  love  than  the  heart  of  my  youth. 


60          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

So  hasten,  love,  hasten,  the  sap's  in  the  vine, 
The  purple  grapes  ripen,  come,  take  them  for  thine. 
Oh,  come  like  Aurora,  a  rose  of  the  morn, 
While  the  autumn  is   fat  with  her  fruits  and  her 
corn. 

The    sun's  in  the  West  and  the  song  birds  have 

flown, 

The  roses  are  dead  and  I'm  waiting  alone. 
Oh  hasten,  love,  hasten,  my  heart  is  still  warm ; 
With  love  at  the  ingle  we'll  laugh  at  the  storm. 
No  longer  my  blood  like  the  charger  doth  spring, 
Like  gold  are  the  hours  thy  presence  will  bring. 
I'll  cherish  thee,  dear  one,  I'll  kiss  £hy  pale  brow, 
And  our  bark  shall  float  outward  with  love  at  the 

prow. 


IF  LOVE  WERE  JUNE. 


If  love  were  June,  the  month  of  flowers, 
When  perfume  laden  steal  the  hours, 
And  but  one  day  were  numbered  mine, 
That  day,  sweet  love,  should  all  be  thine. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  61 

If  January's  virgin  snows 
Sealed  all  the  earth  in  death's  repose, 
And  stars  sang  out  time's  last  refrain, 
Then  hope  would  live  did  love  remain. 

Were  I  in  Afric's  deserts  wild, 
And  I  were  nature's  trusting  child, 
And  love  fled  in  the  fierce  Khamseen, 
I  still  would  trust  in  her,  my  queen. 

More,  I  would  sail  the  Indian  Sea 
To  find  thee,  love,  who  waits  for  me, 
And,  gliding  'neath  the  tropic  moon, 
With  thee  I'd  scorn  the  wild  monsoon. 

Though  thou  didst  fly  to  frigid  zone, 
I  still  would  seek  thee  for  my  own ; 
For  Greenland's  longest,  darkest  night 
Were  rosy  dawn  if  love  did  plight. 

I  must  have  thee,  love,  for  my  own ; 
Without  thee  nothing  else  were  won — 
Pearls,  baubles,  all  that  gold  may  buy, 
Were  useless  things  if  love  should  die. 

I'll  seek  thee  now — thou  wilt  not  flee — 
And  in  my  heart  thou'rt  near  to  me; 
And  heart  hath  more  as  heart  doth  share, 
Twas  made  for  love  to  nestle  there. 


62  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

I  GAVE  YOU  A  ROSE. 


I  gave  you,  love,  a  rose, 

You  asked  it  with  your  eyes ; 

Your  face  did  naught  disclose 
Except  sweet  love's  emprise. 

My  rose  you  picked  apart 

And  idly  threw  away; 
Your  eyes  then  begged  my  heart- 

I  could  not  say  them  nay. 

You  took  my  peace  of  mind, 

A  gift  beyond  recall ; 
I  thought  you  true  and  kind, 

Your  eyes  said :     "Give  me  all." 

I  asked  your  heart  of  you; 

Your  face  grew  cold  as  stone ; 
Ah,  traitor  eyes  untrue ! 

Your  heart  was  not  your  own. 

Fair  traitor,  then  I  knew 
Why  you  despoiled  my  flower ; 

Ah !  like  your  love  'it  grew 
To  last  one  fleeting  hour. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  63 

Where  is  my  one  poor  rose  ? 

You  plucked  its  petals  fast . 
Where  is  my  peace  of  mind? 

Gone!  gone  to  join  the  past. 

So  all  sweet  friendship's  years 
You  blasted  with  your  smile, 

And  dust  bedewed  with  tears, 
That's  for  a  woman's  wile. 


LOVE'S  INNER  LIGHT. 


I  walked,  one  night,  beneath  the  stars, 
And  while  my  feet  were  drawn  to  earth 

My  eyes  pierced  heaven's  shining  bars ; 

For  love  exalted  me, 

And  in  my  soul  joy  leaped  with  sudden  birth. 

I  labored  in  a  garden  rare, 

Where  once  but  weeds  had  vexed  my  sight ; 
And  lo!  I  saw  sweet  flowers  there, 
All  limned  by  love's  own  hand. 

And  for  her  sake  my  pains  became  delight. 


64          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Each  duty  of  my  urgent  days 

Grew  light  as  whisperings  in  a  dream. 

Love  silenced  envy  with  dispraise 

As  sweet  as  poet's  song, 

Or  tinkling  music  of  a  limpid  stream. 

With  chant  the  world's  expectant  choir 
Uplifts  to  heaven  its  pleading  eyes 

And  begs  one  spark  of  sacred  fire ; 

But  love  has  lit  my  soul, 

And  by  her  side  I  walk  in  paradise. 


THE  EVILS  OF  LOVE. 


From    the    Greek. 


Misfortune  call  it  not  to  love, 
And  bad  is  love  let  trial  prove. 
But  worst  of  all  fate's  cruel  stings 
Is  love  that  unrequited  springs. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  65 


ON  THE  GREEK  VIEW  OF  LOVE. 


All  love  is  evil,  thought  the  Greeks, 

But  youth  such  evil  ever  seeks ; 

For  not  to  love  is  quite  as  bad, 

And  love  that's  scorned — oh  plight  most  sad ! 

Ah,  well,  to  evil  all  are  prone, 
And,  right  or  wrong,  I'll  seek  my  own ; 
And  be  there  evil  in  a  kiss 
I'll  take  the  evil  with  the  bliss. 

E'en  cruel  doubt  is  sweet  delight, 
When  fair  ones  work  us  sorry  plight. 
Though  love  be  seldom  smiles  and  flowers, 
One  smile  is  worth  all  pain  of  ours. 

So  live  and  love,  go  drain  the  cup. 
The  draught  is  bitter,  drink  it  up. 
'Tis  but  a  madness,  that  is  clear, 
But  love  is  life,  and  life  is  dear. 

And  when  some  fair,  bewitching  girl 
Sets  all  your  being  in  a  whirl, 
Let  her  not  all  the  havoc  make, 
For  love's  a  game  of  give  and  take. 


66  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE  MERMAID'S  CALL. 


Translated  from  the  German— Schiller's  "William  Tell.1 


It  smiles,  the  blue  sea, 
It  invites  to  the  bath, 

The  boy  lies  asleep, 

On  the  grass  by  the  path. 

He  hears  in  his  dreaming 

A  whisper  as  sweet 
As  the  voice  of  an  angel, 

For  paradise  meet. 

She  calls  from  the  water: 
"Oh,  boy,  thou  art  mine. 

Fll  lure  thee  far  down 
Where  the  seaweeds  entwine." 


POEMS  OF  TRAVEL 

"Hozv  much  a  dunce  that  has  been  sent  to  roam 
Excels  a  dunce  that  has  been  kept  at  home." 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.          71 


CRILLON. 


Lines  to  a   Statue  of  Crillon   at  Avignon. 


Brave  old  Crillon,  standing  there 

In  that  little  graveled  square, 

At  Avignon,  the  papal  town, 

Whence  thy  title  and  renown? 

"Crillon,  le  brave/'  the  legend  reads. 

Armored  knight,  recount  thy  deeds. 

Broad  thy  chest  and  strong  thy  arm, 

Sympathy  to  thee  shall  warm. 

Warrior,  speak  from  out  the  grave  ;• 

Knight  of  knights,  who  called  thee  "brave  ?" 

Tell  me,  chevalier  of  old, 

Didst  thou  ever  fight  for  gold? 

In  my  fancy  now  I  see 

Indignation  cover  thee. 

No !  in  truth  that  arm  so  strong 

Ne'er  wras  raised  in  aid  of  wrong. 

"Many  blows  indeed  I  gave 

For  the  orphan  and  the  slave. 

Captive  maid  and  widowed  dame 

Never  wept  at  Crillon's  name. 


72  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Sword  I  drew  for  Christ  my  Lord, 
Never  false  was  Crillon's  word." 
Weighty  reasons  Crillon  gave 
Why  the  world  should  call  him  brave. 


EL  CAPITAN— YOSEMITE. 


Overland  Monthly. 

No  milestones  mark  the  mighty  handiwork 

Of  God's  creation.    Time  is  but  a  spark 

That  points  the  vastness  of  eternity. 

A  satellite  may  run  its  course  and  mark 

A  fleeting  second  on  that  vaulted  disk 

Where  nebulse  revolve  a  single  hour. 

But  mortal  all,  we  know  an  infinite 

Of  lesser  scope  to  mete  by  measures  vast. 

And  thou,  El  Capitan,  cloud-piercing  rock, 

Which  rearest  in  one  matchless  height  supreme 

Three  thousand  feet  of  awful  majesty, 

Dost  stand  and  mark  the  greatness  of  thy  birth. 

Lost  in  transcendent  awe,  the  mortal  eye 


"And    thou,    El    Capitan,    cloud-piercing    rock.' 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  73 

Regards  thy  unsealed,  battled  heights  benumbed, 

And  seeks  in  vain  thy  hidden  origin. 

Three  thousand  feet !     Tis  but  a  feeble  span ! 

And  there  on  high  thy  cloud-capped  fretted  head 

Hast  scorned  the  fuming  storms  of  gnawing  time. 

And  thou,  perchance,  hast  seen  the  fiery  birth 

Of  planets,  and  beheld  the  perishing 

Of  suns,  unmoved  on  thy  supernal  seat, 

Thine  own  birth  hid  in  deepest  mystery, 

Thou  greater  than  the  sphinx.     But  thou  divine, 

Stupendous  form,  exalted  one  of  time, 

Through  untold  aeons,  wilt  thou  break  the  spell 

Of  thine  immensity  and  tell  thy  tale? 

How  wast  thou  reared,  colossus,  granite  ribbed, 

Great  monument  of  Nature's  wild  caprice? 


GLACIER  POINT— YOSEMITE. 


The  giant  pines  behind  me  hid  the  sky ; 

Before  me  lay  the  awe-inspiring  deeps 
Of  great  Yosemite.    Afar  on  high 

The  winter  king  eternal  vigil  keeps, 


74  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

And  silent  peaks  beneath  their  snowy  hood 
Stand  guard  for  him  o'er  this,  God's  holy  rood. 

For  this  is  holy  ground ;  men  tread  with  awe, 
And  gaze  far  down  on  that  stupendous  pale, 

As  to  -that  brink  their  trembling  limbs  they  draw, 
And  look  upon  earth's  one  sublimest  vale, 

Or  on  that  lofty  rim,  whence  cataracts 

Leap  on  the  scene  and  each  his  part  enacts. 

The  setting  of  this  wondrous  stage  sublime 
Benumbs  each  sense  and  every  thought  appalls ; 

None  with  an  equal  grandeur  seen  since  time 
Began — Nevada  and  the  Vernal  Falls. 

Eight  hundred  feet,  Nevada,  is  thy  spume, 

Thence  down  to  Vernal  in  a  mighty  flume. 

And  Half  Dome,  facing  great  El  Capitan ! 

What  genius  carved  such  monuments  in  stone- 
Twin  giants,  hoary  when  our  race  began  ? 

Yosemite,  the  matchless,  stands  alone. 
Imagination  halts  and  Nature  seals 
Her  book  of  mystery  and  naught  reveals. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  75 


SUNRISE  AT  MIRROR  LAKE— YOSEMITE. 


A  sheet  of  liquid  glass  in  meadow  set, 

And  springing  near  to  meet  the  dark  blue  sky, 

Three  thousand  feet  of  rock  and  wreathing  pines. 

Tis  early  morn,  and  crisp  the  mountain  air 

Invigorates  the  eager  ones  who  stand 

Expectantly  to  greet  the  rising  sun. 

Most  wonderful !    They  gaze  into  those  depths 

And  not  on  high.    For  there  lies  mirrored  deep 

That  mighty  rock  with  fringing  conifers, 

Two  mountains  base  to  base,  one  downward  thrust. 

A  fairy  scene  now  bursts  upon  the  eye 

In  dazzling  splendor.     In  that  mirrored  notch, 

Far  down  shoot  silver  rays  athwart  the  fringe 

Of  pines  that  seem  but  lace  of  rarest  weft ; 

And  threads  of  gold  entwine  that  matchless  web, 

Fit  draping  for  the  fairy  queen.    And  lo ! 

The  god  of  day,  a  threaded  crescent  first 

Upon  his  flaming  brow,  then  all  his  disk, 

With  fiery  glow  to  light  his  wide  domain. 

One  fleeting  moment's  inspiration  deep ! 

Spellbound  we  gaze  enraipt,  then  vainly  praise 

The  matchless  glories  of  Yosemite. 


76  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

THE  GRAND  CANON  OF  THE  COLORADO. 


White  City  Club,  Oct.  14,  1902. 


Amazing,  measureless  immensity! 

As  if  some  errant  planet,  in  its  flight, 

Had  torn  the  vitals  of  our  mundane  sphere 

And  left  her  wounded  in  her  nakedness, 

That  puling  man  through  aeons  yet  to  come 

Might  look  and  feel  the  Universal  Might. 

A  turbid  thread,  the  Colorado  winds 

Below,  past  mountains,  in  those  shudd'ring  depths, 

Which  rear  their  stony,  silent  heads  aloft 

In  futile  effort  to  o'ertop  that  brink — 

Great  giants  that  do  but  impede  the  sweep 

Of  that  fell  cleft  where  all  the  cumb'ring  dead 

Of  all  the  world  might  find  a  sepulture. 

On  either  side  the  desert-plain  sweeps  up; 

And  lo !  'tis  cut  as  if  by  Parca's  shears, 

In  envy  of  Earth's  fructifying  breast. 

And  trembling  mortals,  riveted  in  awe, 

Gaze  down  upon  the  many-colored  crags, 

Where  blend  the  spectrum  tints  of  variant  light. 

And  shadows  mingle,  an  ethereal  veil, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  77 

As  eve  its  purpling  mantle  slowly  folds 

Around  to  let  the  gazer  have  surcease, 

Lest  awe  should  work  him  some  uncanny  spell. 


THE  IBIS. 


The  ibis  is  a  holy  bird, 

At  least  I've  heard  men  say  so, 
And  from  his  very  solemn  look 

I  think  he  means  to  stay  so. 

Beside  the  Nile,  upon  one  leg, 
He  stands  on  sandy  bottom, 

And  seems  so  very  full  of  thoughts, 
You  wonder  where  he  got  'em. 

In  ancient  days,  when  Pharaoh  ruled-, 

Religion  was  a  mixture; 
With  sacred  snakes  and  tabby  cats, 

The  ibis  was  a  fixture. 

At  sight  of  this  long-legged  fowl, 
In  need  of  some  emulsions, 


;8          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

The  priest,  with  laughter,  surely  must 
Have  fallen  in  convulsions. 

But  stay,  he's  such  a  solemn  chap, 
Although  he's  not  a  croaker, 

No  one  would  ever  laugh  at  him, 
Unless  'twere  Pharaoh's  joker. 

Some  men  are  like  that  sacred  bird, 
A  smile  will  never  win  'em ; 

They  stand  around  and  look  so  wise, 
And  yet  there's  nothing  in  'em. 


TO  THE  MUMMY  OF  RAMESES  II. 


And  here  beneath  the  curious  public's  view 

Has  ended  all  thy  greatness,  Ra-Messu. 

Son  of  the  mighty  Seti,  thy  renown 

Three  thousand  clashing  years  have  handed  down. 

And  once  before  thee  princes  knelt  like  slaves ; 

To-day,  with  kindred  clay  from  royal  graves, 

Thy  poor  mute  form  for  fee  is  daily  shown — 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  79 

Five  mean  piastres,  in  this  land  thine  own ! 

Thy  kingly  presence  once  so  passing  great, 

In  awe  the  nations  wondered  at  thy  state. 

The  Hittites  and  the  Ethiopians  far 

In  strongholds  quailed  when  thou  didst  go  to  war. 

Concerning  Jews,  perchance  thy  conscience  pricks, 

Withholding  straw  and  yet  demanding  bricks. 

Great  spirit,  once  within  this  blackened  clay, 

That  hoped  to  stir  it  in  a  future  day, 

With   shame  dost  weep  o'er  this  thy  corse,   time 

worn? 

Or  dost  thou  note  the  curious  with  fell  scorn  ? 
Of  regal  race,  Great  Ra,  son  of  the  sun, 
On  earth  so  potent,  has  thy  spirit  won 
A  crown  of  glory  in  that  new  sun-land  ? 
Or  dost  thou  by  the  Styx  ignoble  stand, 
And  brood  o'er  perished  glory,  Ra-Messu, 
Bewailing  olden  times,  as  many  do? 
Since  here  on  earth  enduring  is  thy  name, 
Doubt  vantage  thee  and  laureled  be  thy  fame. 


8o          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


JAFFA. 


Ho !  ye  artisans  of  Hiram, 

Men  of  might  and  cunning  skill, 
Truly  did  you  land  at  Joppa, 

Or  at  Jaffa  on  the  hill  ? 

'Tis  a  thing  past  comprehension, 
And  I  think  you  never  did, 

For  the  boiling  surf  of  Jaffa 
Chases  up  a  rocky  skid, 

Tossing  sixty  feet  of  silver, 

Liquid  feathers  in  the  air ; 
Sons  of  Hiram,  were  you  seasick 

When  you  made  the  landing  there  ? 

Me,  embarking,  poor  landlubber, 
Jaffa's  beggars,  there  they  be ! 

And  our  boat,  just  like  a  bronco, 
Tries  to  buck  the  roaring  sea. 

Nose  to  heaven,  plunging  madly, 
Dinners  shifting  in  the  hold ; 

Down,  Lord  save  us !  to  inferno, 
Seasick  men  are  not  o'er  bold. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  81 

Hiram,  if  you  went  to  Jaffa — 

It  is  hinted  in  the  Book — 
Did  you  undertake  the  landing? 

Or  to  tourist  agent  look? 

Up  again  in  awful  tumult, 

Skyward,  Arabs  cling  to  oars, 
Stomach  this  time  shifts  its  cargo 

And  a  comber  o'er  us  pours. 

Raging  sea  and  swearing  bos'n, 
Sinking  hearts  and  rising  lunch, 

Wailing  women,  monstrous  billow, 
Turks  and  Christians  in  a  bunch. 

Ship  in  offing — just  a  mile  off — 
Women  all  too  scared  to  wail ; 
Weather  for  a  brief  diversion 

Rains  a  deluge,  then  some  hail. 

» 

But  the  Father  of  the  Faithful 

Has  no  use  for  harbors  new, 
For  if  Allah  needed  shipping 

He'd  'a  built  the  harbor,  too. 

Tell  me,  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre — 
You  and  Solomon  were  thick— - 


82          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Were  you  eighteen-carat  metal 
Or  a  Tyrian  gold  brick  ? 

Royal  humbug  were  you  surely 
If  you  own  to  Joppa's  birth, 

For  this  seaport  far  the  worst  is 
To  be  found  upon  the  earth. 

Father  of  the  Faithful,  close  it ; 
'Xisn't  worth  a  battered  sou, 

And  your  custom  house — don't  breathe  it- 
Can  be  bribed  with  filthy  lu — . 


THE  MOUNTAINS  OF  MOAB.* 


Upon  Judea's  stony  hills  we  stand 
And  gaze  on  Moab's  land  of  mystery. 
There  gleam  the  waters  of  the  bitter  sea 
Whose  tideless  waste  fit  symbol  is  of  death, 
In  this  dead  land  whose  youth  is  long  forgot. 


*The  panorama  seen  from  Jerome,  Arizona,  greatly  re- 
sembles that  described  here. 


Wady   el   Kelt,    Palestine— with   convent   of   St.   Elias   and 
old  Roman  bridge. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  83 

And  there,  in  Jordan's  plain,  wild  Arabs  dash 

In  reckless  wantonness  on  fleetest  steeds 

And  brandish  naked  swords  with  matchless  skill, 

Half  sport,  half  earnest,  to  amuse  the  Frank. 

The  turbid  Jordan  gnaws,  like  giant  tooth, 

A  yellow* notch  into  the  dark-blue  sea; 

While  Sodom  apples  and  the  puny  brake 

Attest  an  endless  war  'twixt  life  and  death 

Upon  this  plain  of  cities  purged  by  fire. 

Surpassing  far  imagination's  scope, 

Are  seen  the  mountains  of  the  Moabites ; 

Great  panorama  that  would  shame  the  brush 

Of  Titian  or  of  Raphael,  in  tints 

Laid  on  by  burning  sun  'neath  wondrous  sky, 

A  glowing  violet  with  golden  red 

And  flushing  brown  and  fading  yellow-green, 

All  blended  on  this  canvas  of  the  gods, 

'Neath  sky  fit  rival  of  the  waters  blue. 

With  worldly  minds  we  journeyed  to  this  land 

Where  prophets  once  had  converse  with  great  Jah, 

And  we,  one  moment,  grasp  the  deeper  truth, 

For  here  God's  spirit  quickens  all  his  work. 


84  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

GETHSEMANE. 


Outworn  and  stricken  is  this  holy  land, 

And  there  dejected  sits  Jerusalem, 

Above  that  vale  of  tears,  Gethsemane, 

The  place  of  earth's  most  awful  tragedy. 

The  hoary,  gnarled  olive  trees  decayed, 

Its  silent  witnesses,  are  stayed  with  stones ; 

But  Christ  in  -agony  no  solace  had. 

A  land  of  blood  is  this  where  curse  of  guile 

Moves  hearts  of  men  to  rhythm  of  violence. 

And  here  mistaken  reverence  has  set 

Upon  the  walls  in  garish,  palsied  art 

Christ's  awful  agony.     Vain  work  of  love ! 

All  impotent,  it  jars  the  inner  sense; 

For  who  can  paint  the  torment  of  a  soul, 

In  throes  of  mortal  agony?    And  least 

His  soul  which  bore  the  woes  of  all  the  world, 

Wrung  with  that  voiceless  pain,  ineffable, 

Pursued  by  hate  and  cursed  treachery. 

Nay,  rather  let  these  blasted  hills  and  vales 

Recall  his  passion  and  that  shameful  death, 

In  cunning,  legal  form  which  wrong  so  loves. 

This  land  of  sorrow,  smitten  with  a  curse, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  85 

In  every  rood  recalls  the  Christ  of  love. 
So,  hoary  boughs,  be  mortuary  wreaths; 
And,  flowers  of  the  garden,  like  sweet  nard, 
Distill  your  perfumes  round  this  sacred  spot. 


BENI  HASSAN. 


Beni  Hassan,  sons  of  Hassan,  don't  you  think  your 

conduct  bad 
Raising  such  a  mighty  shindy  if  a  shilling's  to  be 

had? 
Beggars  all,  ye  sons  of  Ishmael,  sheik  as  well  as 

fellaheen, 
Swarming  like  the  flies  of  Pharaoh  where  the  Nile 

is  flowing  green. 
(Green's  the  color  of  the    river    in    the    babbling 

poet's   dream, 
Just  as  heaven's  blue  is  "oh  fay"  for  the  Danube's 

turbid  stream.) 

Now  the  Frank  in  dahabeah  comes  to  see  your  an- 
cient caves, 


86  POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Like  the  kite  upon  the  pigeon,  down  ye  swoop,  ye 

idle  knaves ; 
Donkey  driver,  sheik  and  women,  mangy  cur  and 

ancient  goat, 
By  the  bank,  ye  ragged  ruffians,  waiting  for  the 

Prankish  boat; 
With  your  throats  attuned  to  "bakshish,"  for  the 

traveller  dreadful  cry. 
"Give  us  something,  oh  howadji,  .or  we'll  let  our 

cudgels  fly." 
Oh,  ye  thieving  sons  of  Hassan,  Ibrahim,  a  man  of 

blood 
Hanged  some  children  of  the  Hassan,  swung  them 

for  the  public  good. 
Tis  a  lesson  long  forgotten ;  on  they    swarm    in 

ragged  rank, 
As  the  puffing  Prankish  steamer  glides  against  the 

sloping  bank. 
Prankish  women  scream  in  chorus  as  the  sons  of 

Hassan  rush, 
In  a  riot,  bakshish  riot,   shouting,   fighting,   in    a. 

crush ; 
Howling,  pushing,  sweating,  praying,  rural  guard 

and  ancient  sheik, 
Greedy  Arab,  dog  and  donkey,  all  a  mighty  tumult 

make. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.        .   87 

Dragoman  in  rainbow  raiment,  like  to  Joseph's  gor- 
geous coat, 
Swings  his  whip  and  calls  his  allies,  seamen  from 

the  Prankish  boat. 
Lovely  woman  pale  with  terror,  stolid  man  enjoys 

the  scene; 
In  a  moment  stills  the  tumult  where  the  Nile  is 

running  green. 
And  the  sheik  with  mighty  cudgel  speaks  as  Moses 

spake  of  old. 
Cowed,  ignoble  sons  of  Hassan,  after  all  you're  not 

so  bold ! 
Dead  and  wounded?     Ha!  not  any,  one  unlucky 

bleeding  head; 
And  on  donkey  back  howadjis  to  the  ancient  caves 

are  led. 
Greedy    sons    of    robber    Hassan,    why    in    tumult 

waste  your  time? 
Very  easy  is  the  answer.     Donkey  drivers  earn  a 

dime. 
And  of  Balaam's  faithful  servants,  waiting,  forty 

were  or  more, 
While  the  curious  howadjis  reckoned  but  a  single 

score, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 
SUNSET  IN  THE  AFRICAN  DESERT. 


Around  is  sand  and  in  the  distance  hills 

Whose  ruddy  sides  glow  in  the  setting  sun. 

No  living  green,  the  heated,  tawny  earth 

Lit  by  mysterious  splendor  as  the  day 

Is  ended.     Blue  and  orange  is  the  east ; 

The  west  all  gold ;  and  stillness  over  all. 

The  scene  is  hallowed,  and  a  reverence 

Springs  in  the  softened  heart  the  while  the  eye 

Dwells  on  the  splendors  of  the  dying  day. 

And  distant  stands,  black  set  on  russet  ground, 

An  ancient  Arab  tent,  and  near  its  door 

A  camel  silhouetted  on  the  sky. 

A  yellow  globe  the  sun  drops  in  a  sea 

Of  gold,  while  quickly  turn  the  ruddy  cliffs 

To  duller  hue.    A  cool,  sweet-scented  breeze 

Springs  like  a  lover  to  embrace  the  night. 

A  feathered  creature  of  the  dusk  pipes  up 

As  flitting  aimlessly  from  rock  to  cliff 

He  bathes  his  wings  in  cooling  welcome  eve. 

Meanwhile,  we  jaded  children  of  the  West, 

In  pensive  meditation  seek  the  Nile, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  89 

THE  ISLE  OF  PINES. 


A  laughing  sea  and  tropic  sun, 
A  lazy  river,  'twill  not  run, 
A  puffing  steamer,  swarthy  crew, 
On  crazy  wharf  stand  soldiers  two. 

Here  in  this  little,  hidden  bay 

Cast  anchor  buccaneers  they  say. 

And  o'er  the  pirate  vessel's  side, 

Their  prayers  said,  men  walked  and  died. 

And  motley  villains  swarth  of  hue 
Divided  coins  and  ingots  new. 
Here,  in  this  lovely  Isle  of  Pines, 
They  slitted  throats  and  drank  good  wines. 

Now  soldiers  two  of  haughty  Spain, 
While  dusky  Cubans  tug  amain 
At  cable  as  we  idly  float 
On  lazy  river,  wheezing  boat. 

We  step  ashore  'neath  tropic  sun 
And  buzz  of  greetings  is  begun; 
While  waiting  till  we  disembark, 
Stands  vehicle  like  Noah's  ark, 


90          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

With  aimless  fussing  to  and  fro, 
At  last  we're  ready  and  we  go, 
With  caballeros,  looking  queer, 
On  lanky  steeds,  in  front  and  rear. 

And  one  with  accents  very  throaty 
Much  resembled  Don  Quixote. 
Away  we  race  in  everting  breeze 
O'er  jolting  stones  and  fallen  trees. 

Our  Senoritas,  Dons  and  Dames 
In  Spanish  call  each  other  names ; 
But  what  had  seemed  to  us  a  fight, 
In  truth  was  converse  most  polite. 

In  piney  woods  to  Santa  Fe, 
The  memory  lingers  many  a  day. 
Delightful,  quaint  old  Cuban  town, 
Where  lazy  nature  will  not  frown, 

Except  when  comes  the  hurricane 
And  then  she  plays  Old  Nick  'tis  plain. 
With  roofs  of  thatch  and  drowsy  square; 
And  goats  and  negroes  idling  there; 

And  tossing  fronds  in  evening  breeze 
Are  royal  palms,  the  prince  of  trees. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  91 

What  scene  is  this  that  greets  my  eyes  ? 
I  stand  and  gaze  in  mute  surprise. 

Banana,  hut  and  palm  I  note, 
And  negro,  too,  and  nibbling  goat. 
A  moment  there  I  puzzled  stand ; 
Have  I  in  dream  seen  such  a  land? 

And,  reminiscent,  then,  I  look, 
Ah,  picture  'tis  from  some  old  book ; 
For  memory  has  kept  them  all ; 
Hut,  negro,  goat  and  palmtree  tall. 


POEMS  OF  WAR 


"The  falcon  dies  and  his  eye 
is  still  upon  his  prey" 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  97 


COLUMBIA. 


"Invocation" — from    an    unpublished    historical    poem. 


Columbia,  latest  titan  born  of  pregnant  time, 
Proud  arbiter  of  seas  and  guardian  of  the  isles, 

The  great  revolving  Bear  beholds  in  polar  clime 
Thy  starry  flag ;  thine  eyes  the  Southern  Cross  be- 
guiles. 

Heed  well,  lest  siren-songed  ambition  lead  in  ways 
Which  conquerors  have  trod,  the  sword  thy  final 

choice, 

Where  once  thy  star-emblazoned  aegis  lent  its  rays 
To  light  the  world,  and  nations  hearkened  to  thy 
voice. 

To  thee  men  look  though  but  from  Pisgah's  distant 

height ; 
For  seeing  thee  full  many  a  slave  has  died  in 

chains* 
With  hope,  because  thy  arm  holds  might  as  less  than 

right, 

And  charged  his  sons :  "Be  brave ;  Columbia  re- 
mains/' 


98          POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Amid  thy  laurels  twine  the  olive  branch  of  peace; 
Teach  all  thy  sons  the  ways  of  righteousness  and 

love, 
That  war,  the  sport  of  kings,  in  all  the  earth  may 

cease ; 
That  God  thy  mission  to  the  nations  may  approve." 

The  light  of  truth  outshines  the  glitter  of  a  crown, 
With  crimson  halo,  limned  by  hand  that  draws  the 

sword. 

Since  vaunting  best  befitteth  those  who    seek    re- 
nown, 

Let  one  word  sum  thy  creed,  and  freedom  be 
that  word. 


THE  MARCH  OF  THE  DEAD  BRIGADE. 


In   Century    Magazine    (July,    1898). 


No  sound  disturbs  the  drowsy  dawn, 

As  forms  the  dead  brigade ; 
Its  silent  ranks  in  serried  lines 
Glide  onward  toward  the  springing  pines, 

All  phantoms  in  parade. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.  99 

Their  steps  bend  not  the  drooping  corn ; 

These  warriors  all  are  ghosts. 
In  rank  and  file  with  solemn  tread, 
Their  captains  marching  at  the  head, 

Move  on  these  silent  hosts. 

From  out  the  tented  camp  of  death, 

Their  flag  of  peace  displayed, 
With  footfall  soft  as  dew  at  morn 
These  cohorts  sweep  the  bending  corn, 

Where  battle  once  was  laid. 

The  mark  of  God's  eternal  peace 

Their  countenances  bear; 
And,  freed  from  all  unholy  hate, 
They  shine  with  that  exalted  state 

Which  heaven's  angels  share. 


THE  CHARGE  OF  PICKETT'S  BRIGADE. 


In  Gettysburg  at  break  of  day 

The  hosts  of  war  are  held  in  leash 
To  gird  them  for  the  coming  fray, 


ioo         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

E'er  brazen-throated  monsters  flame, 
Mad  hounds  of  death  that  tear  and  maim. 

Ho,  boys  in  blue, 

And  gray  so  true, 

Fate  calls  to-day  the  roll  of  fame. 

On  Cemetery  Hill  was  done 

The  clangor  of  four  hundred  guns; 

Through  drifting  smoke  the  morning  sun 
Shown  down  a  line  of  battled  gray 
Where  Pickett's  waiting  soldiers  lay. 

Virginians  all, 

Heed  glory's  call, 

You  die  at  Gettysburg  to-day. 

'Twas    Pickett's  veteran  brigade, 

Great  Lee  had  named ;  he  knew  them  well ; 

Oft  had  their  steel  the  battle  stayed. 
Oh  warriors  of  the  eagle  plume, 
Fate  points  for  you  the  hour  of  doom. 

Ring  rebel  yell, 

War  cry  and  knell ! 

The  stars,  to-night,  will  set  in  gloom. 

Oh  Pickett's  men,  ye  sons  of  fate, 
Awe-stricken  nations  bide  your  deeds. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.          101 

For  you  the  centuries  did  wait, 

While  wrong  had  writ  her  lengthening  scroll 
And  God  had  set  the  judgment  roll. 

A  thousand  years 

Shall  wait  in  teafs, 
And  one  swift  hour  bring  to  goal. 

The  charge  is  done,  a  cause  is  lost ; 

But  Pickett's  men  heed  not  the  din 
Of  ragged  columns  battle  tost ; 

For  fame  enshrouds  them  on  the  field, 

And  pierced,  Virginia,  is  thy  shield. 
But  stars  and  bars 
Shall  drape  thy  scars; 

No  cause  is  lost  till  honor  vield. 


OUR  UNKNOWN  HEROES. 


By  Permission  of  Woman's  Home  Companion. 


The  soldier  dies  in  battle 
And  glory  guards  his  name; 

Then  twine  one  wreath  of  laurel 
For  heroes  lost  to  fame. 


102         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

The  soldier  dies  in  battle ; 

The  engineer  dies,  too, 
Amid  a  wreck  of  iron, 

His  courage  just  as  true. 

He  guides  his  flying  monster 
By  bridge  and  mountain  side, 

Though  death  sit  on  the  pilot 
To  share  his  last  swift  ride. 

In  battle  dies  the  soldier ; 

Men  write  his  name  on  high ; 
Under  the  stone  the  miner, 

With  none  to  hear  his  cry. 

The  one  in  God's  bright  sunshine, 
For  glory  yields  his  life ; 

The  other  in  the  darkness 
For  children  and  for  wife. 

And  him  who  bends  to  labor, 
Through  twoscore  years  and  ten, 

Grave  deep  his  name  in  marble, 
Let  him  be  known  of  men. 

The  warrior  wins  a  guerdon; 
But  fields  of  golden  wheat 


'And   peace,   the  toiler's    way." 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


Redeem  God's  lasting  promise 
That  all  mankind  shall  eat. 

The  soldier's  trade  is  slaughter; 

And  peace  the  'toiler's  way; 
Whose  then  shall  be  the  trophy 

Upon  the  judgment  day? 

Carve  all  their  names  in  marble, 
Our  roll  of  honored  dead  — 

The  soldier's  for  our  country, 
The  toiler's  for  our  bread. 


THE  SLEUTHING  OF  THE  TIGER. 


Since  first  the  sons  of  women 

Have  sought  the  forest  shade 
The  sleuthing  of  the  tiger 

Has  made  their  souls  afraid; 
Forever,  at  the  daybreak, 

His  helpless  quarry  cries, 
And,  waking  with  the  morning, 

Is  the  fear  that  never  dies. 


104         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Men  say  of  old  he  hunted 

For  humbler,  timid  game; 
Slim-flanked  and  shod  in  velvet, 

To  haunts  of  deer  he  came. 
But  once  in  dreadful  hour 

He  tasted  human  blood ; 
Now,  dainty,  sleuthing  tiger, 

He  trails  a  nobler  brood. 

With  age  has  grown  his  cunning ; 

His  robe  once  tawn  is  white; 
The  sleuthing  of  the  tiger 

No  more  is  done  by  night. 
This  tyrant  of  the  forest 

Would  fain  to  men  be  leal, 
But  'neath  his  mask  deceitful 

Lie  bristling  rows  of  steel.      % 

And  envoy  of  the  nations, 

Of  destiny  the  mate, 
He  cons  the  book  of  logic 

And  seals  the  book  of  fate. 
The  stealthy,  sleuthing  tiger 

Would  wear  God's  seal  and  sign 
To  carry  law  and  order, 

Dark  man,  to  thee  and  thine. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         105 

And  far  off  in  the  forest 

Resounds  the  hopeless  wail 
Of  wretched,  hunted  people, 

The  tiger  on  their  trail, 
The  crafty,  sleuthing  tiger, 

God's  self-appointed  beast, 
Who  robs  the  child  of  nature 

That  tigers  still  may  feast. 


THE  HYMN  OF  THE  AVENGER. 


On  the  eve  of  the  Spanish-American  War,  April  3,   1898. 


Hark,  the  trumpet  of  an  angel,  and  behold  a  vision 
dire! 

See  the  awful  god  of  hatred  at  his  sacrificial  fire ! 

Lo,  in  Cuba  and  Armenia  his  loathsome  altars  rise ! 

And  the  smoking  of  the  sacrifice  pollutes  our  South- 
ern skies. 

While   the  waiting  nations  ask :  Oh  God,   how 
long? 

In  the  sunny  vales  of  Turkey  see  the  heaping  of 
the  slain, 


io6         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

And  the  shrieking  of  his  victims  rings  across  the 

Spanish  Main, 
While  the  rav'ning  god  of  hatred  in  the  fierceness 

of  his  zeal, 
Girds  anew  his  bloody  garments  and  he  whets  his 

cursed  steel. 
And  the  money  changers  whisper :    Let  us  wait. 

Oh,  shall  babes  and  weeping  maidens  cry  and  ever 
cry  in  vain  ? 

No,  the  voice  of  mercy  speaketh:     "Let  the  mad- 
dened beast  be  slain," 

And  a  million  freemen  draw  their  blades  to  smite 
him  in  their  wrath. 

May  the  God  of  Justice  guide  them  as  they  break 

him  in  his  path. 
And  the  awful  sentence  ringeth :    He  shall  die. 

Let  the   sword  of  righteous  judgment   cleave  the 

beast  from  head  to  heel ; 
And  the  wrath  of  God  consume  him  on  an  altar  built 

of  steel ; 
Strewing  wide  his   unclean   ashes   in   the   battle's 

mighty  blast, 
That  the  weak  and  the  oppressed  may  abide  in  peace 

at  last. 
For  the  mighty  are  the  servants  of  the  Lord. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         107 

THE  POET  AND  THE  WORD. 
In    Chicago    Chronicle    (November   26,    1899.) 


Lines  suggested  by  the  slaughter  breathing  emanations 
of  certain  English  poets. 

Scorn  for  the  men 
Who  wield  the  pen 

To  bolster  usurpation. 
Vain  is  a  people's  boasted  pride, 
Vain  is  the  cause  for  which  Christ  died, 

When  madness  grips  a  nation. 

For  bond  or  free, 
Tis  God's  decree 

That  mankind  shall  inherit; 
That  every  man,  in  every  clime, 
Shall  prove  his  work  and  bide  his  time 

For  judgment  of  his  merit. 

And  'tis  the  man 
That  in  God's  plan 

Shall  strive  to  win  his  guerdon. 
And  none,  proud  Briton,  Turk  or  Gaul, 
May  bid  his  neighbor  "Heed  my  call, 

'Tis  mine  to  fix  thy  burden." 


io8         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

That  story  plain 
Is  not  in  vain 

Of  Naboth's  small  possessions. 
And  ye  who  covet  lands,  ye  great, 
Think  not  God  shall  regard  your  state 

When  meting  your  transgressions. 

And  none  so  poor, 
Or  slave  or  Boer, 

But  God  will  heed  his  crying. 
When  time  is  ripe,  His  potent  Word 
Shall  dull  the  proud  oppressor's  sword ; 

And  right  takes  -no  denying. 


THE  CHANT  OF  THE  BOER. 


In  the  Inter  Ocean,  Chicago  (January  2,  1902). 


I  ride  the  tawny  veldt  in  pain ; 

To  die  for  home  I  count  but  gain ; 

The  English  foemen  press  my  track ; 

My  trusty  rifle  answers  back. 

And  though  I  ride  straight  on  to  doom, 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.          109 

My  fate  shall  tell  through  all  the  years 
That  freedom's  price  is  blood  and  tears. 

The  kopje  soothes  my  aching  breast ; 
The  stars  above  me  guard  my  rest ; 
For  friends  my  rifle  and  my  steed, 
In  these  I  trust  in  time  of  need, 
Though  all  the  legions  of  a  king 
Shall  trace  in  flame  their  master's  word, 
That  right  is  but  a  name  for  sword. 

My  fallen  comrades  speak  to  me; 
They  died  to  make  their  country  free. 
The  glories  of  Majuba  Hill 
And  Spion  Kop,  I  see  them  still. 
There  sleeps  his  last  my  haughty  foe. 
To  him  a  nation  marble  rears ; 
Let  men  remember  me  with  tears. 

In  every  vale  I  meet  my  foe, 

By  night  his  fires  round  me  glow. 

But  while  one  Boerman  lives  to  ride, 

A  silent  host  is  at  his  side. 

So  long  as  Afric  sky  is  bright, 

I'll  claim  my  own,  my  veldt  so  poor, 

And  none  shall  wrest  it  from  the  Boer. 


no         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 


THE   BOY   PRISONER. 


Gone  to  a  land  of  strangers, 

Gone  to  a  lonely  cell, 
Facing  unknown  dangers, 

Branded  as  traitor  fell. 

All  alone  in  his  anguish, 
Far  from  friends  and  home, 

Day  by  day  to  languish, 
Soon  despair  will  come. 

Charged  with  the  crime  of  treason, 

Oh,  so  young  and  fair ! 
Scarcely  knowing  the  reason, 

Why  he  is  dying  there. 

Neighbors,  father,  brother, 

Fighting  for  that  creed, 
Wonder  'twere  if  other, 

The  boy  held  right,  indeed. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         in 

Gone  from  his  hills  and  valleys, 

Gone  to  far  Camp  Chase, 
Hoping  still  he  rallies, 

But  death  is  in  his  face. 

Compassionate,  the  sentry 

Smiles  with  a  friendly  nod ; 
And  when  the  guard  makes  entry, 

A  soul  has  gone  to  God. 

Virginia  mother  weeping, 

Under  the  old  roof  tree; 
Tears  for  the  boy  that's  sleeping, 

Prayers  for  the  boy  with  Lee. 


THE  TYRANT  IMMORTAL 

1901 

"  'Ou/c  'e0Aw  irXovreiv,  OVK  Mxofjuii'    'aXXd  /JLOL 
'eirj  ffiv  CK  TU>V  dXtyuv  /jiydev  V^o^ra  Ka/c6^." 

"  /  do  not  desire  great  riches,  I  do  not  pray  for  them; 
rather  let  my  lot  be  to  live  on  little,  escaping  evil." 


THE  TYRANT  IMMORTAL. 


Argument.  The  author  sets  forth  that  each  age 
has  a  master  passion  which  prevails  over  the  minor 
vices  and  foibles  of  humanity  and  gives  character 
to  an  era. 

Part  I.  Degrading  fetich  worship  and  human 
sacrifice  prevail,  giving  color  and  trend  to  the  life 
of  savages  and  semi-civilized  nations. 

Part  II.  The  king  becomes  a  demi-god  and  uses 
his  divine  authority  to  awe  and  oppress  the  igno- 
rant people. 

Part  III.  The  lust  of  conquest,  dominion  and 
glory  animate  the  world,  especially  Rome,  which 
practically  was  the  world. 

Part  IV.  In  the  Middle  Ages  the  religious  feel- 
ing is  again  dominant  and  the  crusades  are  an  ex- 
hibition of  its  power.  Alongside  of  religion,  owing 
to  the  ignorance  of  the  times,  flourished  magic, 
witchcraft  and  belief  in  signs  and  omens. 

Part  V.  The  age  of  Progress  promised  to  bring 
in  a  practical  millennium.  But  greed,  a  detestable 
passion,  has  grown  with  accumulating  wealth  until 
it  threatens  the  liberties  of  the  people  as  did  all  the 
other  forms  of  the  ruling  passion. 

116 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         117 


THE  TYRANT  IMMORTAL. 

I  sing  of  a  tyrant  immortal, 
Of  a  tyrant  without  a  name, 

Who  sits  in  humanity's  portal 
And  taxes  humanity's  shame. 

PART  I.       THE  FETICH  GOD. 

Like  backward  glances  flung  by  one  who  fears 
And  runs,  so  let  the  vision  scan  the  field 
Sown  by  that  farthest  age  to  yield 

A  crop  of  vileness  and  of  human  tears. 

And  It  man  worshiped  was  a  monster  lank, 
Couchant,  with  vengeful  eyes  regarding  men, 
Who  blew  his  poison  breath  from  out  his  den, 

To  scorch  with  vapors  that  were  hot  and  dank. 

And  with  that  vile  contagion  men  went  mad; 
Eating  their  brothers'  flesh  at  horrid  feasts, 


n8         POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

To  gain   from   it  new  strength   'gainst  foes  or 

beasts. 
And  slew  with  joy,  for  blood-lust  made  them  glad. 

And  It,  that  monster  on  the  farthest  edge, 
Beheld  his  blood-dyed  votaries  with  joy, 
While  they  with  trembling,  lest  his  glance   de- 
stroy, 

Laid  on  his  altar  each  a  living  pledge. 

Sometimes  a  maiden  of  a  tender  age, 

Or  babe  that  nestled  to  its  mother's  breast, 

Or  captive  spared  when  death  had  ta'en  the  rest ; 

And  still,  unsatisfied,  he  sulked  in  rage. 

Till  fell  the  lightning  from  insulted  Heaven 
To  smite  the  dragon  and  his  priesthood  dead, 
While  dupes  and  votaries  in  horror  fled, 

And  conscience  quickened  with  a  grain  of  leaven. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         119 


PART   II.       THE   KING  GOD. 

The  King  it  was  whose  power  made  the  state ; 
The  sun  sat  on  his  brow  and  smote  men's  eyes 
And  blinded  with  effulgence  of  the  skies, 

There  centering  all  the  things  that  men  call  great. 

And  of  this  god,  whose  glance  transfixed  a  foe, 
Vicegerent  god  and  brother  of  the  sky, 
No  groveling  subject  dared  to  meet  the  eye, 

Lest  presence  slay  him  e'en  without  a  blow. 

When  royal  Ra  sat  brooding  by  the  Nile, 
Or  Bel,  "Creator/'  by  Euphrates'  wave, 
Man  toiled  a  beast,  a  scourged  and  sweating  slave, 

That  wine  and  beauty  might  his  god  beguile. 

He  piled  a  mausoleum  of  the  dead, 

With  human  blood  cementing  every  stone, 
And,  in  the  desert,  voices  seem  to  moan, 

Lamenting  all  those  millions  who  have  bled. 


120        POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

With  hidden  meaning  and  with  magic  rite, 

The  priests  and  eunuchs  riveted  men's  chains 
Till  e'en  the  soul  had  suffered  mortal  pains, 

And  pined  unnourished  in  eternal  night. 

In  coward  fear  of  saurians  of  the  deep, 

Of  dogs  and  vilest  thing  that  flies  or  crawls, 
They  built  them  fanes  and  sculptured  on  the  walls 

Base  images  in  superstition's  keep. 

Fear  ruled  the  world,  for  on  the  royal  brow, 
Did  not  sit  vainly  thunders  that  could  smite 
The  mightiest  who  dared  his  king's  despite ; 

And  scorn  so  lofty  hates  the  slaves  who  bow. 


PART  III.      THE  GLORY  GOD. 

Ambition  next  all  barriers  had  rent, 

And  shook  the  frighted  earth  with  battle  clash ; 

And  made  the  sword  successor  to  the  lash, 
While  war  was  holiday  with  gladness  blent. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         121 

Great  Rome  had  marked  the  world  a  destined  prize, 
Exacting  homage  from  a  thousand  chiefs, 
Who  erst  had  fought  for  gain  or  petty  griefs, 

And  discord  led,  that  Rome  by  craft  might  rise. 

In  marble  fanes  men  kneeled  to  pallid  death, 
And  loud  huzzas  acclaimed  the  god  of  war, 
While  captives  tugged  and  died  upon  the  oar, 

And  soldiers,  spent,  cursed  with  their  dying  breath. 

A  Caesar  shadowed  all  the  crouching  world, 
And  with  the  fire  of  his  touch  he  seared  it, 
Yea,  far  as  Tigris,  men  had  felt  and  feared  it, 

Dreading  his  oriflamme  of  war  unfurled. 

The  great  fed  on  the  great,  and  lower  sank 
The  rabble  in  a  cankering  slough  of  lust, 
Till  faith  was  not  and  none  his  mate  could  trust, 

And  Caesars  in  a  day  rose  from  the  rank. 

And  mighty  Rome  had  writ  her  name  the  highest, 
Teaching  the  world  the  lesson  of  the  sword, 


122        POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

That  virile  men  might  con  it  word  by  word 
And  add  one  line :  "Vain  is  thy  pomp,  thou  diest." 


PART  IV.      THE  SUPERSTITION  GOD. 

As  one  in  fever  who  hath  troubled  sleep, 

Benumbed  with  some  narcotic,  dreamed  the  world. 
The  flags  that  blew  for  glory  were  all  furled, 

And  Superstition  held  mankind  in  keep. 

In  that  dark  age  the  slave  was  twice  a  slave, 
Who  feared  his  master's  whip,  but  more  that  one 
Whose  potent  lash  could  reach  the  soul  undone, 

Or  with  a  word  could  intercede  to  save. 

In  cloister  sat  the  monk  and  pondered  well 
The  ways  of  spirits,  and  if  ten  could  dance 
Upon  a  needle's  point,  or  if  perchance 

The  fallen  angels'  wings  were  singed  in  hell. 

Then  royal  grace  could  cure  by  royal  touch — 
"King's  Evil!"  rottenness,  a  name  to  wring 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         123 

The  hearts  of  kneeling  sufferers,  who  bring 
Their  sores  before  the  throne.     God  pity  such. 

And  zealots  burned  the  doubter  at  the  stake, 
A  holy  work  that  won  a  heavenly  meed, 
In  name  of  Christ.     To  justify  a  creed, 

They  burned  their  brothers  for  the  brothers'  sake. 

And  mumbled  prayers  o'er  a  crumbling  bone; 
Or  fumbled  relics  to  avert  the  spell 
Of  witches,  and  of  evil  shapes  that  dwell 

In  haunted  places,  where  none  go  alone. 

So  proud  the  baron  was  he  did  despise 

The  wretch  in  rags  who  was  his  needy  serf, 
And  hacked  his  flesh  as  lightly  as  the  turf 

That  must  be  well  subdued  ere  crop  may  rise. 

Men  walked,  half  waking,  in  sad,  lethal  dreams, 
While  superstition,  mounted,  like  a  hag, 
Spurred  on  her  victims,  lest  their  zeal  should  flag 

And  reason  move  them  with  some  transient  gleams. 


i24        POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

But,  like  to  gods,  a  chosen  few  were  those, 
Who  found  in  chaos  forms  divinely  fair, 
Where  genius  quickened  with  her  tableaux  rare 

And  from  the  dust  art's  radiant  lily  rose. 

And  lo !  the  genius  of  a  new-born  age 

Shakes  out  the  folds  of  her  enchanting  robe, 
Whose  bright  effulgence  circles  all  the  globe, 

And  writes  but  Progress  on  a  snow-white  page. 


PART   V.      THE    MONEY   GOD. 

Vanished  the  gods  of  cold,  insensate  stone! 
To  Saurians  no  more  is  homage  paid, 
And  witchcraft  to  Anubis  flees  afraid, 

While  vain  man  boasteth  he  is  all  his  own. 

Olympian  Progress  sits  enthroned  to  rule, 

While  clanging  presses  vomit  knowledge  forth, 
In  deluge  like  to  Noah's  o'er  the  earth, 

And  he  who  serves  not  progress  is  a  fool. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         125 

For  progress  belts  the  trembling  earth  with  steel, 
And  builds  her  houses  twenty  stories  high. 
But,  like  Anubis,  when  her  loved  ones  die, 

Embalms  them  fondly  as  if  clay  could  feel. 

And  progress  crowds  her  millions  in  one  spot, 
So  thick  their  clamor  doth  astonish  Heaven ; 
And  with  a  dash  of  learning's  frothy  leaven 

They  move  to  pity  at  the  heathen's  lot. 

Little  hath  he  but  freedom's  tonic  air, 

He  wears  no  harness  through  the  weary  hours, 
But  on  his  track  the  civilizing  powers 

Sleuth  him  as  savage  beasts  are  trailed  to  lair. 

Hail  progress!  hail  the  god  whose  temples  spring 
Thickly  upon  the  earth ;  whose  servitors  not  f e\v 
Bring  costly  off'rings  in  their  garments  new, 

While  joyous  paeans  to  their  god  they  sing. 

But  like  the  votaries  of  ancient  days, 
These  servitors  have  servants  who  are  poor, 


126        POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

Sore  stricken  with  disease  that  finds  no  cure, 
For,  slave  or  freeman,  'tis  the  toiler  pays. 

For  man  and  master  meet  throughout  the  ages, 
One  proud,  erect,  the  other  'neath  the  yoke ; 
One  was  the  exalted  demi-god  who  broke 

His  fellow  with  the  sword — and  word  of  sages. 

For  words  have  keener  barbs  than  loaded  whips, 
And  fairest  word  too  oft  conceals  a  gyve 
For  willing  slave ;  while  babbling  prophets  thrive 

By  cunning  service  which  is  from  the  lips. 

Hail  progress !     Tis  a  cry  of  subtle  might. 
Go  rend  the  old,  if,  breaking,  you  may  swell 
Your  reputation  and  your  purse  as  well. 

And  change  is  progress,  hence  all  change  is  right. 

This  age  has  doffed  her  once  enchanting  robe, 
That  radiant  garment  with  its  lucent  stars, 
And  donned  instead  the  panoply  of  Mars, 

That  progress  may  encircle  all  the  globe. 


POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE.         127 

And  barons,  cunninger  than  those  of  old, 
With  alchemy,  our  freedom  deftly  bring 
To  crucibles  of  trial  whence  doth  spring 

A  ready  genius  that  turns  blood  to  gold. 

Stupid  Anubis,  with  the  jackal  head ! 
Thy  servile  worshipers  must  needs  have  whips, 
But  wiser  is  our  god,  who  deftly  slips 

Gold  in  the  palm ;  our  god  is  better  bred. 

The  new  inrushing  years  with  fatness  cloy, 

And  freedom's  increase  holds  the  world  in  scorn, 
She  hails  her  kings  of  iron,  oil  and  corn, 

For  oil  makes  gladness  and  in  corn  is  joy. 

She  thanks  thee,  progress,  for  the  right  to  cheer 
This  Pantheon  that  greets  her  wondering  eyes, 
With  Plutocrats  the  mightiest  'neath  the  skies, 

Whose  chief  may  count  a  thousand  millions  clear. 


128        POEMS  AND  CONCEITS  IN  VERSE. 

EPILOGUE. 

The  dragon's  fane  was  dabbled  with  men's  blood ; 

The  mighty  sun-god  smote  his  trembling  slaves ; 

Rome's  god,  the  sword,  her  priesthood  were  her 

braves ; 
The  monkish  ages  prayed  the  holy  rood. 

Oh,  freemen,  heed  the  parting  of  the  ways ! 
Our  quest  is  freedom's  Holy  Grail, 
Thou,  God,  be  with  us  lest  we,  too,  may  fail, 

And  might  prove  right,  as  in  the  darker  days. 


AN  IRON  CROWN,  (4th  Edition.) 

BY  T.  S.  DENISON.         • 


AN  IRON  CROWN,  published  years  ago,  stands  to-day  as 
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and  graphic  style,  powerful  and  realistic  character  drawing,  and 
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A  New  Book  by  MARY  J.  JACQUES, 
Author  of  "  Work  and  Play" 


Brimful  of  all  sorts  of  good  things. 


IF  YOU  WANT  TO  GET  UP  : 

A  SCHOOL  EXHIBITION, 

A  LITEBARY  PROGRAM, 

A  CHURCH    SOCIABLE, 
AN  EVENING'S  PARLOR  AMUSEMENT, 

THIS  IS 

THE  VERY  BOOK  YOU  WANT, 

IT 


CHARADES,  PARLOR  GAMES  IN  GREAT  VARIETY,  PAN- 
TOMIMES OF  POPULAR  POEMS,  SHADOW  SCENES  IL- 
LUSTRATING POPULAR  PASSAGES  FROM  THE  POETS. 


ENIGMAS,    CONUNDRUMS,    RIDDLES, 
ETC.,  ETC. 


Full  directions  for  performance.  Nothing  expensive  or  difficult 
to  get  up.  Miss  Jacques  is  a  lady  of  great  ingenuity  in  devising 
pleasing  performances  for  young  and  old.  A  capital  book.  All 
new  and  fresh,  not  a  reprint. 

PRICE,  MANILA  SIDES.  OLOTH  BACK,  152  PAGES. 
25  GENTS. 

T.  S.  DENISON,  163   Randolph  St.,   CHICAGO. 


THE  ENCHANTED  WOOD. 

AN  OPERETTA.    LIBRETTO  BY  FANNIE  E.  NEWBERRY. 
Music  BY  T.  M.  TOWNE. 

Characters:  Miss  Muffit,  Mistress  Mary,  Bopeep,  Simple  Simon, 
Boy  Blue,  Jack  Homer,  Fairy  Queen  (soprano),  and  maids  of  honor, 
school  teacher  (soprano),  Mother  Goose  (contralto),  police,  and  other 
fairies.  Time  of  playing,  from  i  hr.  30  min.  to  i  hr.  45  min.  Hand- 
some costumes,  easily  made  at  home. 

PLOT.  —  Six  children  start  out  from  school  on  an  expedition  into 
the  woods,  but  separate  and  wander  singly  into  the  borders  of  an 
enchanted  wood.  Here,  by  order  of  the  Fairy  Queen,  they  are  lured 
further  on  till  they  sink  down  exhausted,  and  are  thrown  into  a  deep 
sleep  by  six  fairies  with  poppy  wands. 

Mother  Goose  requests  the  pleasure  of  transforming  them  into  such 
characters  of  her  own  rhymes  as  they  most  resemble,  anJ  they  are 
roused  to  find  themselves  Jack  Horner,  Bopeep,  etc. 

A  CAPITAL  TAKING  PIECE.    SCENES  SIMPLE  AND  EASY 
Price,  35  cents;  Six  Copies,  $1.60. 


SOCIflL  CflRD  GflMES. 

BY  CHARLES  TOWNSEND. 

A  practical  guide  for  playing  all  modern  social  games,  with  fuH 
instructions.  Includes  Whist,  French  Whist,  Catch  the  Odd,  Euchre 
(9  kinds),  Ecarte,  Cribbage,  Scat,  Be"zique,  Sixty-six  (3  kinds),  Casino, 
Seven  Up,  (all  kinds)  Pitch,  Auction  Pitch,  Pedro,  Sancho-Pedro, 
etc  ,  etc.  By  omitting  long  details  on  nice  points,  the  author  has 
given  full  and  authoritative  rules  for  playing  all  games  ordinarily 
played,  besides  many  totally  new  to  most  people.  A  necessity  for 
handy  reference.  Also  contains 

TRICKS    f\ND    DIVERSIONS 

at  cards.    7>  sse  consists  of  many  new  and  amusing  tricks  (illustrated) 

which  may  be  readily  learned,  and  will  greatly  amuse  and  puzzle  your 

friends. 

128  PAGES  PRINTED  ON  GOOD  PAPER  FROM  CLEAR  TYPE 

Price,  cloth,  50  cents;  paper  35  cents. 


PLAYS  by  T.  S.  DENI5ON. 

That  the  plays  written  by  T.  S.  Denison  are,  all  things  con- 
sidered, the  best  for  amateurs,  is  attested  by  their  very  large  and 
increasing  sale,  over  455,000,  to  Oct.  i,  1902. 

New  plays  in  this  type. 

COMEDIES.  ACTS.     TIME.     M.F. 

Odds  With  the  Enemy, 4,  2  hrs,        7—4 

Seth  Greenback,       -       -       -       -       -       -  4,  i  h.  15  m.  7 — 3 

The  School  Ma'am, 4,  i  h.  45  m.  6—5 

Only  Daughter,         -       -       -       -       -       -  3,  i  h.  15  m.  5 — 2 

Louva,  the  Pauper, 5,  2  hrs.        9—4 

Under  the  Laurels,          .....  $t  %  hrs.        5 — 4 

Danger  Signal, 2,  i  h.  45  m.  7—4 

Our  Country,  Historical  Play,        -       -       -  3,  i  h.          10 — 5 

The  Sparkling  Cup, 5,  2  hrs.       12—4 

Topp's  Twins,          --....  4,  3  hrs.        6 — 4 

It's  all  in  Pay  Streak, 3,  i  h.  40  m.  4—3 

The  New  Woman, 3,  ih.  3—6 

FARCES.  ACTS.  TIME.   M.F. 

Initiating  a  Granger,        ......  25  m.  8 — 

Wanted,  a  Correspondent, 2,     45  m.  4—4 

A  Family  Strike,       .......  20  m.  3 — 3 

Two  Ghosts  in  White, 20  m.   —8 

The  Assessor,           .......  lorn.  3 — 2 

Borrowing  Trouble, -       -  20  m.  3-5 

Country  Justice,       .......  20  m.  8 — 

The  Pull  Back, 20  m.    — 6 

Hans  von  Smash,     .......  2,     30  m.  4 — 3 

Hard  Cider,          ........  iom.  4—2 

Irish  Linen  Peddler,       ......  a,     40  m.  3 — 3 

Kansas  Immigrants,    -------  20  m.  5—1 

Too  much  of  a  Good  Thing,         .  -  45  m.  3 — 6 

Is  the  Editor  In?          -       -       -       -       -       -       -  20  m.  4—  2 

Pets  of  Society,        .......  20  m.    — 7 

Wide  Enough  for  Two, -  45  m.  5 — 2 

Only  Cold  Tea, 20  m.  3—3 

Patsy  O'Wang, 35  m.  4—3 

Rejected,           40  m.  5—3 

A  First-Class  Hotel, 20  m.  4— 

Mad,  Princeton's  Temple  of  Beauty,      -       -  20  m.   — 6 

Dude  in  a  Cyclone    , 20  m.  5—3 

The  Cobbler,            10  m.  i — 

M,  head  of  column,  means  male:  F,  female;  25  m.,  etc.,  25  minutes. 
4®=*  Topp's  Twins  and  It's  all  in  the  Pay  Streak,  250.  each. 
All  others  150.  each.     Postpaid. 

Catalogue  of  250  plays  and  books  free. 

T.  5.  DENISON,  Publisher, 
163  Randolph  Street,        -      -      CHICAGO. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY, 
BERKELEY 

THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

Books  not  returned  on  time  are  subject  to  a  fine  of 
50c  per  volume  after  the  third  day  overdue,  increasing 
to  $1.00  per  volume  after  the  sixth  day.  Books  not  in 
demand  may  be  renewed  if  application  is  made  before 
expiration  of  loan  period. 


MAY  g  1928 


20?n-l/22 


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